Insurance Required Even If Not Driving

Gizmos_dad

Recently I read somewhere (possibly MSE) that you have to have your vehicle insured even if not being driven. So even if your car is in the garage let's say for a couple of months or weeks and not actually been driven or parked on the road, you could still be fined/ prosecuted. Unless ofcourse you declare it SORN.

The authorities have on their database all vehicles with and without insurance, so if you let your insurance lapse the first you will know about it is when letter comes through the post.

Is this correct or am I barking up the wrong tree??:eek:

Strider590

Your wrong, it's not the authorities.... It's the DVLA.

Tao81

No, I read this too!.......Like you, I can't remember if it was on this site or not (I have a strong feeling it was!) maybe if you search this site for articles on car insurance you'll come across it again

Tao81

Strider590 wrote: »

Your wrong, it's not the authorities.... It's the DVLA.

.......that is an authority???? to me it is anyway?!

paddedjohn

The new vehicle insurance law - don't be caught out

Stay insured - stay legal
Watch a video on the new rules on being insured and penalties you could face

• Stay insured

In early 2011, the vehicle insurance law will change.
If you're the registered keeper of a vehicle, it must be insured at all times.
The only exceptions are:

• if you have made a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) for the vehicle
• vehicles that have been kept off-road since before SORN came into force on 31 January 1998 - unless they are brought back into use

Could you be breaking the law?

If you're not using your vehicle, you should make a SORN. If you are using it, it must be insured.

• How to make a SORN

The change in the law means that you won't be able to temporarily take a vehicle off the road and cancel your insurance, unless you make the vehicle SORN at the same time.
If you're not using your vehicle, you should make a SORN. If you are using it, it must be insured.
How does this affect a vehicle used only in the summer?

If you have a vehicle that is not insured, but which is still taxed you could face a penalty. This includes motor caravans, motorbikes and classic cars – all vehicles that people sometimes leave uninsured for part of the year.
What if you have a personalised registration on your vehicle?
You should inform your insurance company if you change the registration number of your vehicle at any time. If you do not you could receive an Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL) letter to say your vehicle is not shown as insured.

• Personalised reg and number plates

Where does the new law apply?
The new law will apply in England, Scotland and Wales. It will not apply in Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.
Does this change affect the Off Road Register?
Off road bikes and construction machinery on the Off Road Register are not affected by the change in the law unless they are registered for use on the public road.
Are classic cars affected?
The change in law will affect your classic car if it's taxed but not insured. If you have a vehicle that was manufactured before 01 January 1973 that has a 'nil value' tax disc, it is still considered by DVLA as taxed. So, you should make a SORN if it's uninsured and keep it off the road.
How does this affect pre-SORN vehicles?
Vehicles which have been kept off-road since before SORN came into force on 31 January 1998 are exempt from this law unless they are brought back into use. If you want to bring the vehicle back into use, you will need to tax and insure it. Follow the link below to do this.

• Apply for a tax disc online Opens new window

Avoid a penalty or prosecution - check your details now


DVLA records will be compared with the details of vehicles on the Motor Insurance Database (MID) - the UK's central record of vehicle insurance. The details of all insured vehicles should be on the MID.
You can check that your motor insurance details are on the database and are correct by following the link below.
If the details aren't correct, or are not on the database at all, you should contact your insurer immediately, as only they can update the MID's information.
Check your vehicle is insured - askMID Check the Motor Insurance Database now Opens new window










What will happen if your vehicle doesn't have insurance

If a vehicle does not have insurance, the registered keeper of it could:

• receive a fixed penalty of £100
• have their vehicle wheel-clamped, impounded, or destroyed
• face a court prosecution, with a possible maximum penalty of £1000

An Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL) will be sent to inform the registered keeper of a vehicle that appears to have no insurance. It advises the keeper what actions to take to avoid receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Get the best deal

You can get expert tips and advice on reducing your insurance costs from the Stay Insured website. Follow the link below to find out more.

• Ways to save on insurance - tips from askMID Opens new window

Why would someone receive a letter about a vehicle they don't own any more?

If you have sold or scrapped your vehicle, you need to make sure that DVLA know that you no longer own it. Follow the links below to find out how to do this.

• How to notify DVLA if you sell your vehicle

Gizmos_dad

Strider590 wrote: »

Your wrong, it's not the authorities.... It's the DVLA.

DVLA are an authority. We all do as they tell us.:p

Gizmos_dad

Thanks Paddedjohn I know I saw it somewhere...

Still an eye opener, but I can see the logic in it.

DVLA are trying to clamp down on millions of uninsured drivers on the road.

However not sure how this will help the legally insured drivers, if anything they will be worse off having insurance all year round and also the hassle of getting it SORN.

However I'm sure the government will make more money out of it as always.

forgotmyname

Why is there such a big issue with SORN'ing the car if its untaxed or uninsured?

Takes a minute or 2 to do it online. Why would your uninsured car need to be on the road?

[Deleted User]

forgotmyname wrote: »

Why is there such a big issue with SORN'ing the car if its untaxed or uninsured?

Takes a minute or 2 to do it online. Why would your uninsured car need to be on the road?

It might be easy to SORN if you are keeping a car off the road for a while when the tax has run out.

What this is about is even if you do have tax and you leave your car off the road for a while. Like if you were in hospital for a few weeks. If your insurance runs out in that time you'll either have to insure straight away or cash in your tax disc to SORN.

You won't be able to just "leave it" as it were.

paddedjohn

and another scam is if the car is uninsured on private property you have to sorn it and return any unused tax for a refund.

Inactive

paddedjohn wrote: »

and another scam is if the car is uninsured on private property you have to sorn it and return any unused tax for a refund.

That really is disgraceful and serves no purpose other than to make more money for the insurance industry.

Of course we only get a part refund of VED.:mad: