Car: Stuck between a rock and a hard place

Legacy_user

Had my initial phone call from the OR office today and I have a face-to-face meeting booked in for early January - no problem there.

I need my car for my work (self-employed), however... we've been putting serious thought into declaring it SORN to avoid having to pay for MOT and insurance in January. Basically our money is next to nothing over the winter and it would help a lot of if I didn't have insure the thing when it's less needed. We can make do during the low season with just using my wife's car.

But come the spring/summer we'll need use of the two cars again but I'm wondering if having it SORN the OR will just say "I'll have that!". I can't help think that if it's officially off-road my case for "needing" the car isn't particularly strong.

!!!!!!!

sharpy2010

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ineedaname

I think you've answered your own question there.

dojoman

Yep, if it is off the road, the OR will take it as an asset.

tigerfeet2006

Has the OR said he has no interest in the vehicle yet? Do you have a letter to say he has no interest?

System

No, I've not had the meeting with him yet - it's due three days before the insurance renewal lol

Ineedaname

So, at the time of your OR interview the car will be 'on the road' and in use as you need it to be able to run your business. If you can gain exemption on that basis and a letter confirming same emailed to you (!) before the insurance runs out, then I guess you'd be fine taking it off the road for the winter.

Timings are a bit tight though and it may be tricky getting the confirmation letter off the OR so quickly without explaining why and therefore losing the exemption because the car will be off the road within a few days...

tigerfeet2006

Ah! Bother!

Though if the OR express's no interest at the meeting and says he is not interested in thecae and you can keep it then you could SORN it then. Not sure how this would sit with the OR or whether he would find out it is SORN so I would be interested to see what DI has to say.

Is the car going to be kept on private land if you SORN it? Because I thought you had to have it taxed and insured etc. If it was on the road.

System

No, it'll be kept off-road, behind a fence and probably in a garage.

kepar

If you take a car off the road after an agreement with the OR to allow you to keep it. Could it then be argued that your circumstances have changed because you are not then paying tax, insurance and fuel costs etc and you would have to notify the OR.

Maybe off track but it could be seen as a way of increasing allowances, whilst managing without a car. I am not implying that , that is what is intended in this case. Just looking for opinions.

tigerfeet2006

Well that's that bit sorted.

Now it is down to timings. If they express no interest ask them to email the letter as you will be looking to insure it and you need to be certain.

Hopefully DI will put his two pennies in and tell us if this is possible or not and we are not barking up the wrong tree.