SORN Query

Riflemanharris

We have had our VW Camper ina garage for the past 5 years being restored. This week it returns home, so I went to get a tax disc for it. At the Post Office the lady behind the counter said there was a gap in the taxation and I would be hearing from the DVLA regarding a massive fine - £10 000 (i am guessing £2500 per year) plus £320 in penalties (£80 per year). I put the van on SORN for the first year then didn't realise and wasn't reminded thereafter so it lapsed.

When I look on the DVLA website they mention an £80 penalty and a £1000 if this isn't paid, but nowhere do they say this is per year and nowhere does it mention a £2500 fine. So I am confused. I can accept the £80 penalty, but since nobody has notified me to ask for a penalty before it would seem a bit rich to then fine me for non-payment.

I am hoping the person in the Post Office has got this wrong, otherwise we will have spent 5 years restoring someone else's van!

Thanks for any help.

Hammyman

The Post Office can barely post a letter correctly, let alone know anything about taxing cars. I doubt anything will happen. If it does, say you sent a SORN declaration to them. They're losing court cases left, right and center.

Cool_Username

When I've SORNed a car online in the past I've had a confirmation email sent to me - do you have an email or letter from the DVLA confirming that you SORNed the camper?

Riflemanharris

Not now - it was 4 years ago. It's the last 4 years that are a problem as I didn't renew the SORN over that period. The van was in pieces in a garage (proper garage, not the one next to the house) for 4 years and it never dawned on me to renew the SORN. I didn't get a reminder either which didn't help.

I guess my issue is can they charge me 4 times for each year I missed, as the Post office seemed to think, or is it once?

KeithP

Have a re-read of Hammyman's reply.

I'm sure you can work out an inexpensive strategy.

custardy

Riflemanharris wrote: »

Not now - it was 4 years ago. It's the last 4 years that are a problem as I didn't renew the SORN over that period. The van was in pieces in a garage (proper garage, not the one next to the house) for 4 years and it never dawned on me to renew the SORN. I didn't get a reminder either which didn't help.

I guess my issue is can they charge me 4 times for each year I missed, as the Post office seemed to think, or is it once?

have you moved house in that period?

Riflemanharris

No I haven't. I simply forgot to do it - the van was away and it was a case of out of sight out of mind. I didn't have an MOT, it was in bits, I just forgot to SORN it.

custardy

i wasnt meaning from your side
just weird not to get a reminder in 4 years
at one point i had 4 cars,with 3 as projects(god knows how these things happen!) but i got reminders every year for them all

Riflemanharris

No. We haven't moved or anything. That's the odd thing about it. I have always had a reminder on the other cars, but not the camper. I'm not blaming the Post Office (although I guess it sounds a bit like it), but I am thoroughly confused about the potential consequences. They seem to range from £80 to £10320.

custardy

TBH i would just leave it
by this point you should have had reminders and any fines due through the post
tax her and enjoy her

Riflemanharris

To be honest that is what we have done. It was during the getting the tax disc that the issue arose and being a pessimist I took the worst figure I was given. I am now a little more confident I won't be needing to sell the van to pay the fine.