Sorry to use up valuable Back Room bandwidth tonight, but I'm hoping someone can give me a useful answer to this:
My friend's car tax expired at the end of January. She can't find her MOT certificate to renew it. She hasn't been using the car, and it has been parked off the road on private land. However, I believe that she is still in breach of the law, in that she should have SORNed the car.
However, she had assumed she'd find the MOT within a few days and would be able to tax it and that it wasn't worth SORNing it for a few days. 10 days later and she still can't find it though. What trouble might she get in to, and how likely is it that she will? As I say, the car is parked well off the road, so someone would have to go looking for it not having a tax disc, but she can ill afford to get a fine or similar over this.
Also, will she be able to get a copy of the MOT from the garage that did it, or will she have to have the car tested again?
Any advice for best course of action would be appreciated. Not having the car isn't causing her any major problems, but she doesn't want to get in trouble with the law.
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Why doesn't she SORN it?
I lost an MOT once, the garage I got if from were able to provide a duplicate for a small fee. Have you tried that?
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She hasn't SORNed it because she is intending to tax it as soon as she finds the MOT, but that is taking longer than anticipated. I've suggested she go to the garage and I think she has just about given up on finding the original certificate and is intending to do that as soon as is convenient.
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Steve, She should declare it as SORN now - there's a chance that the DLVA computer systems will pick up the fact the car isn't taxed (it need not be spotted by an eager traffic warden or PC) and if that happens a fine is likely. As it's not massively late then jsut filling in the form will probably suffice, though she may want to write to the DVLA with a short letter.... I myself had to do this for 'the 2nd car' when repair work took much longer than anticipated - as the car was at the mechanics I hadn't realised the Tax had expired 2 months prior. I scribbled a short 'sorry' note and sent that with the SORN - I never heard anything so I'm sure your friend will be fine too.
As above a copy of the MOT will cost a few quid, if there's less than 4 months it might be as well to get it retested.... obviously she'd not drive it there though!! ;-)
www.TriumphTR7.com - get 'Wedged'
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It is acutally legal to drive a car with no MoT (and presumably no tax, as you need an MoT to tax it) to the test centre for a *pre booked* test appointment.
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You can get tax as long as the MOT is current - i.e. your MOT could expire the day after you tax it. However, this isn't the problem - the car has 6 months MOT left but she can't find the certificate.
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As per PU
On foot TODAY, down to the Garage where it was last tested. They keep a Register of vehicles that have been issued with a certificate and when.If they confirm one issued and valid they can then issue a test certificate. Re- licence immediately. If there is is any problem, cannot remember the Garage etc then:
Bring up the DVLA site on PC and print off the SORN notification.
Send to DVLA forthwith with explanatory note about the delay and they may, just may take no further action but could fine you up to £1000.
When you have sorted the Test certificate the re-license.
DVD
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This is an aside to the main purpose of the thread I know, but is it really true that there is no kind of certificate or acknowledgement of SORN? I SORNED 2 old cars a few months ago, and wonder whether I should have heard anything back.
And is there a mechanism for cancelling SORN, say if the certificate turned up, or does taxing it automatically revoke the SORN?
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Yes, good question, Cliff. I SORNed my G-wagon in the UK a few months ago and I now anticipate needing it soon (as it looks like we are about to get forcibly evacuated from Jordan due to impending Iraq war!)
CMark
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Get it done at the post office, Cliff. They issue you with a little till-roll type receipt for doing the deed and you should keep it carefully with your vehicle documents against the day when DVLA might claim you have never SORNed.
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Don't you need the documents now to do anything at the PO?
I acquired the cars, and sent off the forms from the previous owners to the DVLC, enclosing SORN declarations.
I have received new registration documents in my name, but nothing to actually say "Car No. so and so now SORNED at...."
So if I sold one, the new buyer would have only my word that the car was SORNed rather than just illegal, or indeed legally unSORNed because it had not been taxed since the relevant date when SORN came in.
Seems to be a loophole here.
And could I drive one down to be MOTed and then reSORN it if it needs more work? What about the declaration "has this car been used on the road between ..."
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See this which should answer all your SORN questions:
www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/vehlicnc.htm#STATUTORY%20...0(SORN)
In brief:
You must Tax or SORN. SORN valid 12 months - reminder sent same as for a Tax disc. IF you sell the car new keeper must tax or SORN. You may drive untaxed (or SORNed) vehicle to test centre for pre-arranged MOT, or for pre-arranged repairs for MOT.
It says the reminder V/11 should be taken to the post office, I have a car on SORN, but can't remember what we did to get it - Wife's car so told her to sort it out - assume she did....!
Richard
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And of course the Police Nat. Computer has a natty little marker that says No VEL and quotes SORN start dates if one applies. If either of these markers pop up expect a tug.
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MOT, or for pre-arranged repairs for MOT.
That's an interesting new bit of wording I haven't seen before.
So the repairs might not be at the MOT tester - maybe at a specialist repairer? May be at the other end of the country if the car is unusual, a classic, or something? Does the car already have to have failed an MOT on these items, or might they be precautionery repairs? Does the repairer have himself to be a licenced MOTer, or could it be an ordinary garage, or my mate down the road who does welding?
So many questions, but then this looks like a useful loophole if true.
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MOT, or for pre-arranged repairs for MOT.
Hmm, can't find any evidence for that - but sure I have read it somewhere, sometime. Makes sense really! Bear in mind of course it is, I think, a separate offence to use a vehicle in unroadworthy condition.
Richard
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Possible problem with loophole -
driving TO garage for pre-arranged repairs may be OK,
but driving back home again?
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Thanks all - I shall point out to her in no uncertain terms to get her backside in gear and get this sorted out.
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