SORN Query

custardy

i would guess that even if it did get to fines it would be £80/year
however given the recent goings on with the DVLA then i would fight it
i never liked the idea of SORN
you keep your car legally off the road and still get a fine

Shoshannah

DVLA reminders are a courtesy, and not receiving a reminder is unfortunately not a defence for forgetting to renew tax or SORN. You can find out if there is a gap in the taxation by checking the vehicle status on the website - click 'Vehicle Enquiry' on the left hand side: http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/

Follow the instructions - if the vehicle status is 'SORN' then you are OK. If it is 'unlicensed' then the vehicle is neither taxed nor SORN'd, and therefore there is a gap in the taxation. This will make you liable for back payment of tax for the unlicensed period.

This happened to me when I purchased a SORN'd vehicle and did not realise that I had to re-declare SORN myself, I thought it was continuous. I realised two years later that I had received no reminders, and when I tried to SORN the vehicle I was told I could not and I was fined £200-ish for back payment of tax during that period. Throughout the entire period, the car had been off road in pieces. I was unable to SORN it online, over the phone or at the Post Office, I had to do it via a local DVLA centre.

Is your camper pre-1974? I guess the fine would be lower if you don't normally have to pay tax on it.

My advice is to tax it at the Post Office if you can, or try contacting the DVLA office if you can't. I would be surprised if the automated online/phone systems accept it as they are designed to flag up any attempts to tax/SORN a vehicle recorded as 'unlicensed'. It may be that nothing happens, and you can continue as normal. It's a bit hit-and-miss in my experience. Alternatively, you might receive a letter from the DVLA asking for payment of fines or previous unpaid tax. If the latter happens, send them a letter explaining the mistake and that the vehicle was off road. If you can, send proof that it was off road (I sent photos of the vehicle in pieces). In my case, they waived the fine and the car is now declared SORN properly.

For future reference, remember the ambiguous rules surrounding the SORN system.
If you purchase a vehicle that is declared off-road, remember that YOU as the new owner are responsible for declaring SORN again straight away. Do not wait for the 12 months to be up, as they will send no reminder and the vehicle will become unlicensed.
Remember to make a note of any tax/SORN dates yourself, as the DVLA are NOT required to send out reminders and not receivign a reminder is no defence.
When you make a SORN, you will receive a confirmatory letter within 4 weeks. If you don't get this for whatever reason, it is YOUR responsibility to contact the DVLA and double check this, or you will be eligible for any fines.

I hope this helps and all goes well, good luck!

KeithP

Shoshannah wrote: »

When you make a SORN, you will receive a confirmatory letter within 4 weeks. If you don't get this for whatever reason, it is YOUR responsibility to contact the DVLA and double check this, or you will be eligible for any fines.

Are you sure about that?

Several recent court cases have decided that you do not have to check that DVLA have done the job you asked them to do.

Here is some light reading to start with.

Shoshannah

KeithP wrote: »

Are you sure about that?

Several recent court cases have decided that you do not have to check that DVLA have done the job you asked them to do.

Here is some light reading to start with.

Thanks, this is why I said 'ambiguous'. Doesn't hurt to cover one's !!! though.

darich

I recently sorned a car and noticed that on the info I had it stated it was for a year.
Thankfully it turned out my sorn was only for 2 months but I remember reading about it lasting 12months.

Shoshannah

darich wrote: »

I recently sorned a car and noticed that on the info I had it stated it was for a year.
Thankfully it turned out my sorn was only for 2 months but I remember reading about it lasting 12months.

Sorry, not sure if I am misunderstanding this. But a SORN always lasts 12 months. You can end the SORN early by taxing the vehicle.

darich

Shoshannah wrote: »

Sorry, not sure if I am misunderstanding this. But a SORN always lasts 12 months. You can end the SORN early by taxing the vehicle.

Exactly.
I was confirming the earlier query about a sorn lasting only a year. I did indeed end mine early by taxing the vehicle, hence mine was only 2 months.

flutterbyuk25

OP - it's seems unlikely that you have been fined as you would have had it through post along with reminders and then debt collector letters if not paid so would know about it!

Best thing to do is just write a short letter to DVLA saying that the vehicle was off road for the period x to x due to being restored, and that you have now retaxed it and apologise for not renewing SORN annually. When I worked there they were quite leniant about this if no penalty had been issued. If a penalty had been issued though they tend not to accept this excuse!

In realtion to not receiving the reminders over 4 years. If you do not tax/SORN when the initial one expires then there is no future date for the computer to send reminders out. So if you missed the first renewal of the SORN for whatever reason then no further reminders are sent.

HTH

x

harveybobbles

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

Tell her there is a gap between her ears...