car tax question

scheming_gypsy

Friend of mine is about to take her driving test in 2 weeks and already has her car sitting on the drive. Tax ran out a couple of days ago.

She's asked if i can help her find insurance as she wants to insure it on a provisional license for a month (so she can tax it) and then re-insure when she passes her test. I not sure that's possible so what's the best option?

Insure as a provisional and 'upgrade' when she passes.
Stick it on SORN for a couple of weeks.
Is it possible to tax using somebody elses insurance that has 3rd party ability to drive other cars (i'm sure i've done this years back but not 100%).
any other ideas?



cheers.

hjb123

If the tax disc is out of date she will automatically get fined now I think! I am sure the DVLA advertise on the TV that it is all on their computer that they know when it is run out so if the car isnt already declared SORN then she may get fined.

I would have thought just declare it SORN until she has passed her test - hoping she passes when she takes it in a fortnight!

scheming_gypsy

She's wanting to get some extra lessons off her Dad in it as well so doesn't want to put it off road.
DVLA's automatic fines aren't that fast. I'm usually late with my tax and have never had a fine from them except after I sold a car and sent them the documents which they didn't process. I received the fine 3 months later.

paul_h

DVLA check the taxed status of all vehicles on/at the the 1st of each month. If a vehicle shows up as being untaxed and without a SORN declared twice on the trot, a fine will be automatically issued.

Effectively, this gives you one month's grace, but I'd stick a SORN on it as it doesn't cost anything - better safe than fined.

If she actually wants to use the car, she will have to get insurance and tax it - there's no alternative...

scheming_gypsy

Yes Paul, that's what she wants to do.
The issue of getting fined is irrelevent. I'm just asking for the best possible way to get it insured on a provisional license for only (hopefully) 2 weeks.

hjb123

Will her parents not insure it for her?

scheming_gypsy

she wants it insured in her name so she can get her NCD's as soon as possible. If it goes in her Dad's name then she's got 12 months from passing her test before she can insure it herself. Plus she'll be the only driver and doesn't live with parents etc etc.

hjb123

Right I understand!

According to https://www.confused.com

they say that you can buy insurance online even if you havent yet passed your test:

Licence Types

You can buy car insurance online if you hold a provisional licence. But remember to let the insurance company know as soon as you pass your test as this can reduce the premium substantially. Some insurers give further discounts to drivers who have passed the Pass Plus or IAM test.

The link to this is:
http://www.confused.com/buyersguide/insurance-jargon-buster.jsp

and go to licence types

Looking back you probably already realised this - I hadnt!! Anyway I think that she will have to insure for a year - probably the best thing is to use a comparison site such as confused.com and then when she passes tell them and the insurance should go down.

scheming_gypsy

Nice one HJB... i guessed it'd be possible but we have restrictions on our net access at work and couldn't spend much time looking.

Bossyboots

Just for future information, you cannot tax a car using the DOC extension on someone else's insurance.

scheming_gypsy

sure i did it years ago but wasn't 100% sure.