No SORN, No reminders, No V5C

boyse7en

I've got a car in my garage that is either a pile of rust taking up space (wife's view) or a classic in need of some TLC (my view)

Had the car for about 10 years. Last on the road back in 2003. It occurred to me that I have never declared SORN on the car. Equally, I've never been sent a reminder/fine/declaration or anything from the DVLA.

I've got the V5 for the car, but i don't think that is valid any more, as they were replaced by the V5C - which I have never had.

I'd like to get the car back on the road at some point in the not too distant future, anyone know the best way about doing it without incurring 7 years of back-dated fines for SORN. Or has it never even needed to be SORN since it was off the road before the legislation started?

RegWorts

boyse7en wrote: »

I've got a car in my garage that is either a pile of rust taking up space (wife's view) or a classic in need of some TLC (my view)

Had the car for about 10 years. Last on the road back in 2003. It occurred to me that I have never declared SORN on the car. Equally, I've never been sent a reminder/fine/declaration or anything from the DVLA.

I've got the V5 for the car, but i don't think that is valid any more, as they were replaced by the V5C - which I have never had.

I'd like to get the car back on the road at some point in the not too distant future, anyone know the best way about doing it without incurring 7 years of back-dated fines for SORN. Or has it never even needed to be SORN since it was off the road before the legislation started?

I am in a similar situation but it`s been much longer (over 25 years)

I remember trying to find out an answer to the same question many years ago.I feel sure that you will have had a SORN reminder after the first year and will have forgotten about it as it was one of those leaflets attached to the road tax renewal letter. The problem then becomes awkward because if you do declare it now, there is a good chance that you will get fined. Something like this happened to a colleague with an old Rover and , IIRC , he bit the bullet and paid a fine.(They were rather strict and intended to fine him anyway as he had broken their "rules" !)

In my case ,(or should I say "basket" case if I ever get around to doing up my pile of rusty 1950s MGA ,) then as it is a much older (pre SORN ) era vehicle, I will have to go through the process with the Car Registration people to get the car either reregistered with a non-transferable, age related registration number or get its original registration verified...and there still might be a possibility of a fine as well for disobeying the SORN

I will be intrigued to see how this turns out for you.

It might even spur me on into looking into my own situation again.

Good luck ...

Reg

Strider590

Call the DVLA and ask them the above without giving your details (And record the conversation if possible ), they're bound to say "noooo, no fines will be issued" because if they don't know who you are they'd just scare you off, if they start demanding details before they answer you then you need to find another way.... If I remember correctly, any vehicle that has no valid V5C can be "claimed" as your own property provided nobody comes forward to contest you.

RegWorts

RegWorts wrote: »

I am in a similar situation but it`s been much longer (over 25 years)

I remember trying to find out an answer to the same question many years ago.I feel sure that you will have had a SORN reminder after the first year and will have forgotten about it as it was one of those leaflets attached to the road tax renewal letter. The problem then becomes awkward because if you do declare it now, there is a good chance that you will get fined. Something like this happened to a colleague with an old Rover and , IIRC , he bit the bullet and paid a fine.(They were rather strict and intended to fine him anyway as he had broken their "rules" !)

In my case ,(or should I say "basket" case if I ever get around to doing up my pile of rusty 1950s MGA ,) then as it is a much older (pre SORN ) era vehicle, I will have to go through the process with the Car Registration people to get the car either reregistered with a non-transferable, age related registration number or get its original registration verified...and there still might be a possibility of a fine as well for disobeying the SORN

I will be intrigued to see how this turns out for you.

It might even spur me on into looking into my own situation again.

Good luck ...

Reg

Update

Here`s a useful site that has given me an answer to my situation...but it only applies if it`s not been on-road since Jan 1998

http://www.ukmotorists.com/sorn%20traps.asp

Quote
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]"Vehicles manufactured or registered before 1 January 1973 are classed as historic vehicles and attract a nil rate of duty. However, to ensure that the vehicles are roadworthy and documentation such as MoT and insurance are current, a nil rate tax disc must be displayed in the vehicle. If the vehicle is kept off-road and has not had a licence since 31 January 1998, there is no requirement to declare SORN. However, if the vehicle has held a licence since this date, it is essential that an annual SORN declaration be made. [/FONT]"

boyse7en

Strider590 wrote: »

If I remember correctly, any vehicle that has no valid V5C can be "claimed" as your own property provided nobody comes forward to contest you.

Oh, it's mine alright. Got an old-style V5, just not the updated V5C.

Funnily enough I found I had two V5Cs for another car. Same details on each, but different reference numbers. They must have sent me both, at different times, and I have stuck them in a file. Not until I got everything out and started going through it all that I found the second one. Haven't worked out what to do about that either, but that's for another day...

maninthestreet

When SORN isn't needed

SORN isn’t needed if:

• you sell the vehicle
• you scrap the vehicle or pass it to a scrap dealer
• your insurance company has written off the vehicle
• you take the vehicle abroad permanently
• you apply for a refund of vehicle tax and don’t keep the vehicle
• you are keeping the vehicle off the road and untaxed for less than 14 days
• your vehicle was last taxed before 31 January 1998

agentginger

I have a 1968 classic car, which has been kept on Private land/ garage since 1998. The tax disc expired Dec 1998, indicating that I taxed the car prior to Jan 15th, 1998. I declared SORN but after no reminders I completely forgot about it since 2002. I have received no fine letters or reminders. I have since checked the status of my car on the DVLA website and it is currently shown as unlicensed 'liability since 2002'. I am scared I may be liable for a fine. Does anyone know how much these fines are and do they accumulate for every year cars are unlicensed? ( am i looking at a possible 9 yr fine)

Does anyone know what the '31st Jan 98' cut off date applies to? Does the car tax need to have been expired before 31st Jan 1998 or as I taxed the car prior to this date will I be let off?

Any advice on this issue much appreciated

Thanks

Gloomendoom

Tricky one.

By not declaring SORN you risk not only a fine but also paying the back tax since 2002. If the car is registered as an historic vehicle the back tax will be zero. If not... loads!

I do have some sympathy as it is easy to forget when SORN needs to be renewed as there are no reminders and no tax disc with an expiry date on it. Maybe it would be fairer if they sent out reminders and/or a SORN disc to stick in the windscreen.

esmerobbo

On the bottom of the SORN form it says reminders will be sent!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_065269.pdf

Gloomendoom

esmerobbo wrote: »

On the bottom of the SORN form it says reminders will be sent!

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_065269.pdf

They may send them... but they don't seem to arrive.

I have three vehicles SORN at the moment and I don't think I have ever received a reminder for any of them.

esmerobbo

Gloomendoom wrote: »

They may send them... but they don't seem to arrive.

I have three vehicles SORN at the moment and I don't think I have ever received a reminder for any of them.

I have never SORN'd so don't know but I certainly know DVLA mail does not always get sent/delivered!