Buying a vehicle on SORN...learn something new every day...

[AdvanceRoadcraft]

Bought a lotta cars and bikes in my life; some taxed (good), some untaxed (did it in the next few days), a couple on SORNs (taxed them in the next few days too).

But in May I bought a bike that was on SORN and which needed work; seller delivered it on a truck right to my lockup where it's been sitting ever since.

His SORN was renewed in Nov. last year and I assumed it covered me as the new owner. WRONG!! Went to renew it (coupla weeks 'early' I thought) on line to-day and got a frosty note from the DVLA saying that as it hadn't been taxed or SORNED from the day I transferred the ownership to my name that I may be prosecuted.

Guess that this is somewhere in the 20-page booklet they send out to New Keepers - so it's prolly my own stupid fault and mebbe all the rest of you guys knew this? But just in case it saves somebody else falling foul of this rule I thought I'd post a 'heads-up'.

[Kinky]

Well - I never knew that, and I would have assumed the same as you, as the tax is automatically transferable.

How much are they stinging you for?

K

[AdvanceRoadcraft]

Kinky said:

Well - I never knew that, and I would have assumed the same as you, as the tax is automatically transferable.

How much are they stinging you for?

K

Dunno yet; I'm sorta hoping that common sense will prevail and that, although I have been warned, that I'll hear no more about it. I'll keep you posted if I do hear more from them.

Best, B

[mojocvh]

So what they are "really" saying is that you cant dispose of your own property without paying "tax" of some kind.............................

[bobthepsycho]

I had this problem with a bike I bought in November last year. Realised in February that it wasn't taxed or SORN'ed, so I went straight to the DVLA website and SORN'ed it. I also got the frosty letter, but nothing ever came of it. Scare tactics to stop you doing it again, maybe?

[AdvanceRoadcraft]

mojocvh said:

So what they are "really" saying is that you cant dispose of your own property without paying "tax" of some kind.............................

Not really; if I'd SORNEd it in my own name as soon as I transferred the ownership there would have been nothing to pay.

Best, B

[Rob_the_Sparky]

Me no understand, Tax transfers - why not SORN?

Rob

P.S. Shows how fantastic there system is that you didn't get a frosty letter earlier. Clearly they don't check their own records!

Edited by Rob_the_Sparky on Monday 30th October 17:01

[aw51 121565]

I've purchased a few cars that were untaxed, so immediately sent off the SORN application only to get a letter back saying I couldn't declare SORN as I wasn't the registered keeper. Cue immediate resubmission of the application and all ok. This was last back in 2004.

Have they got their backsides in gear at the DVLA to work this one out yet? A bit of thought would have pre-empted it, I would have thought... *naive smilie*

I can't ever recall reading that SORN carried on from one owner to the next, but being cynical I declared it anyway. It's nothing but a nasty trap to catch people out (and drain their pocket).