Tax exemption, SORN and insurance

[xvivalve]

This came as news to me in the post today. I had erroneously assumed once a car is ‘Historic’ that SORN became irrelevant, but unless it is insured, even if in off road storage, it needs to be registered as SORN!

[GTS290N]

News to me as well but in a different way- I thought even SORNed vehicles had to be insured, even if 'laid up' insurance.

[TrustNo1]

All 'taxed' cars have to be insured and this does include ones that are 'historic' as its assumed by the DVLA that is its not been declared SORN then its being used on the road and all cars declared SORN must be kept off the road (council owned car parks are classed as public areas)

This has been the case since continuous insurance came into effect.

[dollyman]

If you sorn a car it does not not need tax or insurance if it is off road. To tax a car you need insurance. Once a car is on sorn you need to do it every year untill put back on the road or scrapped Hopefully i have this right?

Tony.

[TrustNo1]

. To tax a car you need insurance. Once a car is on sorn you need to do it every year untill put back on the road or scrapped Hopefully i have this right?

Tony.

Nope. you do not need insurance to tax a car but you need to insure it once it is taxed. If you SORN a car you don't need to renew it every year it remains on a SORN status until sold, scrapped or taxed.

[RSi]

. To tax a car you need insurance. Once a car is on sorn you need to do it every year untill put back on the road or scrapped Hopefully i have this right?

Tony.

Nope. you do not need insurance to tax a car but you need to insure it once it is taxed. If you SORN a car you don't need to renew it every year it remains on a SORN status until sold, scrapped or taxed.

Since when did you not need insurance to TAX a car? I thought you had to renew your SORN every year, but now that you say that I never got asked to SORN it last Nov, first time ever.

[xvivalve]

The insurance database is automatically checked when you 'tax' a car, but the point here is I didn't even tax the car, I just applied to have the logbook changed from 'PLG' to 'historic' after initially receiving the V5c as the new keeper of the vehicle; the car has been off the road since 1992 and didn't need to be SORNed as a consequence.

[Toledo Man]

As the new keeper, you will have to declare SORN even if it has been off the road since before SORN was introduced. You won't be able to change the taxation class until you are able to tax it. Insurance is required to tax the car.

[dollyman]

I did think you need insurance to tax a car

Tony.

[xvivalve]

As the new keeper, you will have to declare SORN even if it has been off the road since before SORN was introduced. You won't be able to change the taxation class until you are able to tax it. Insurance is required to tax the car.

Previously you didn't and in fact, you couldn't; the system wouldn't accept the SORN. You only needed notify SORN as a new keeper if the car was previously on the road post 1998. They've been a bit s##t about publicising this as a change.

[TrustNo1]

The insurance database is automatically checked when you 'tax' a car,

No its not. if this was the case then you wouldn't be able to tax a car you had just bought until your broker had updated the MID which depending on the insurance Co or broker could be several days, even if they do update it straight away it can still take a while for it to get on the system.
It was changed when the new tax rules about tax not being transferable and CIE were bought into force.

[TrustNo1]

from the official post office website

First, you’ll need one of the following:
Your V11
Your V85/1 if it’s a Heavy Good Vehicle (HGV)
Your V5C logbook
Your V5C/2 if you’ve just bought the vehicle

Bring one of these to your local Post Office branch. To find a local branch that can sort out vehicle tax, use our Branch Finder.

If you don’t have any of these, then you need to apply for a fresh V5C. You need to fill out a V62 form, which you can pick up from Post Office branches. The cost is £25.

What else you’ll need
A valid MOT – it has to be valid from the date your vehicle tax starts or the date your vehicle tax is issued, whichever is later
A valid Exemption Certificate – if you claim disabled vehicle tax
A valid Reduced Pollution Certificate – if your vehicle has been modified for reduced pollution
A valid GVT or PSVC – if you need either of these, it’ll be mentioned on your vehicle tax reminder

If you’re in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to have a valid paper copy of either your certificate of insurance or a cover note. Your insurance needs to be valid from the date your vehicle tax starts or the date your vehicle tax is issued – whichever is later.

And here is the government consultation that was passed
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.u ... ummary.pdf

[sprintchris]

As the new keeper, you will have to declare SORN even if it has been off the road since before SORN was introduced. You won't be able to change the taxation class until you are able to tax it. Insurance is required to tax the car.

Previously you didn't and in fact, you couldn't; the system wouldn't accept the SORN. You only needed notify SORN as a new keeper if the car was previously on the road post 1998. They've been a bit s##t about publicising this as a change.

The good bit is that they’re not fining you, but a pre warning. I had exactly the same, I bought a car last used 2007 put it in my name and got same letter, just sort it immediately and all will be good.

[Carledo]

This has been the case since before I bought my Sprint auto in 2012. The car had been off the road since at least 1993 and had never been SORNed. But as soon as I had to put my name on the V5 it had to be SORNed (or taxed ,in which case it would also need to be insured ) It only became elegible for historic status this April 1st and I have yet to get the V5 updated, but that's no biggie anyway, i'll just trot down the PO when it's ready to hit the road!

Technically speaking, it's been elegible for MOT exemption since last August so I COULD add it to my trade policy (which costs me nowt) and have it officially "on the road" VED free, now! even though it's 6 different colours and not remotely driveable yet!

Steve

[TrustNo1]

This has been the case since before I bought my Sprint auto in 2012. The car had been off the road since at least 1993 and had never been SORNed. But as soon as I had to put my name on the V5 it had to be SORNed (or taxed ,in which case it would also need to be insured ) It only became elegible for historic status this April 1st and I have yet to get the V5 updated, but that's no biggie anyway, i'll just trot down the PO when it's ready to hit the road!

Technically speaking, it's been elegible for MOT exemption since last August so I COULD add it to my trade policy (which costs me nowt) and have it officially "on the road" VED free, now! even though it's 6 different colours and not remotely driveable yet!

Steve

Why not try taxing it without putting it on the MID first, then come back and tell us that insurance wasn't checked when you taxed it (as happened with mine twice)