Insure/SORN

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Sat 25 Oct 2014 21:29
Insure/SORN - Lolarat

I received a letter from the DVLA dated 4th Sept when I returned form holiday on 11th Sept.

It stated that I had failed to insure my motorbike but it was road taxed and I had to insure it or declare it SORN. I immediately insured the bike the next day, as my understanding is that as long as the bike wasn't on the road, I was complying with the law.

I have now received another letter stating that because it wasn't insured on 4/9/14 I will have to pay a fine of £100.

On looking back I see that I was supposed to pay £50 and insure the bike, however I wasn't in the country at the time of this letter and thought I only had to insure the bike. This letter was also the 1st I'd heard of this and I can't say I understand what I'm being fined for as the bike has never been on the road this year due to ill health.

I would like to dispute this, can you please advise, thanks

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Sat 25 Oct 2014 22:44
Insure/SORN - martint123

Quite some time ago (2011) it became a requirement that vehicles be taxed and insured or declared as off road with SORN.

www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles

www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/legal-advice/continu...l

www.confused.com/car-insurance/articles/drivers-un...e

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 23:53
Insure/SORN - 1litregolfeater

Whatever you can quote to us does not make it right.

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 12:44
Insure/SORN - alan1302

Whatever you can quote to us does not make it right.

Why do you not think it's right?

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 13:24
Insure/SORN - Bromptonaut

Whatever you can quote to us does not make it right.

You can argue that it should be different but both the law and the mischief it addresses are quite clear.

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Sun 26 Oct 2014 00:14
Insure/SORN - FP

"...my understanding is that as long as the bike wasn't on the road, I was complying with the law."

"I can't say I understand what I'm being fined for as the bike has never been on the road this year..."

You're being fined because you didn't SORN it and it was therefore assumed that it was in fact on the road.

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Mon 27 Oct 2014 10:28
Insure/SORN - skidpan

As martint123 says above it has been UK for some time that unless SORN has been declared the vehicle must be insured.

Since you did not have it insured you are liable to pay the fine.

No point in appealing, you will not win. Ignorance of the law is not an acceptable excuse. The new law has clearly been satted on all the recvent tax renewals I have been sent by the DVLA.

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Mon 27 Oct 2014 12:42
Insure/SORN - pd

It normally has to be uninsured for sometime to trigger a fine.

Usually, they will send a warning letter to enable you to check your insurance and check if it is is insured but the database is wrong (quite common).

Only if you fail to react to the warning do they normally proceed with a fine.

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Wed 5 Nov 2014 23:56
Insure/SORN - 1litregolfeater

Automatic justice eh?

Should I get an automatic rifle?

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 07:53
Insure/SORN - RobJP

The law is clear. It, and what you need to do to comply with it, has been very clearly stated on car tax reminders for the last few years.

If some people wish to go through life with their heads in the clouds, not paying any attention to the world around them, or actually reading anything 'official' and in BIG LETTERS that they are sent (and that's how the car tax reminders are, to tell you about continuous licensing/insurance), then that's their own lookout.

Maybe they should get an automatic driving ban too, because they are obviously incapable of taking notice of things.

Pay attention, or pay up, basically.

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 08:19
Insure/SORN - RT

Automatic justice eh?

Should I get an automatic rifle?

Why would anyone legitimately want to have an uninsured car on the road - if it's off the road Sorn it, if it's on the road insure it - simples!

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 12:43
Insure/SORN - alan1302

Automatic justice eh?

Should I get an automatic rifle?

No

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 22:44
Insure/SORN - galileo

Automatic justice eh?

Should I get an automatic rifle?

No

Not allowed them legally since the Hungerford shootings (except for .22 rimfire, having got a Firearm Certificate).

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Thu 6 Nov 2014 23:01
Insure/SORN - RobJP

Automatic rifles have been banned for a lot longer than that.Technically, we've only got 22LR in semi-automatic

Unless you've got a Section 7 ticket, of course.

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Fri 7 Nov 2014 11:40
Insure/SORN - galileo

Automatic rifles have been banned for a lot longer than that.Technically, we've only got 22LR in semi-automatic

Unless you've got a Section 7 ticket, of course.

Absolutely correct, Rob, I should have made clear the difference between full and semi.

(Though full auto, gas powered machine guns are available for 6mm plastic BBs - quite impressive gadgets)

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