Forgot to declare SORN

dnet

Hi,

I have a couple of V5c documents for cars which i bought over a year ago and have stored them to use as spares (to keep my one on the road)

I came across these today and started to wonder/worry about declaring SORN

I've never had a reminder for them and if i go to the DVLA website it says the details cannot be found and this may be "If you are trying to use this service too late then please use your V5C Registration Certificate (Log Book) or visit a licence issuing Post Office® or DVLA Local Office, applicable for your vehicle."

I'm now concerned that if i ring DVLA to ask about their current status they will issue me with a fine. As i'll be sticking my head above the parapet so to speak i'm not sure i should just stay quiet

Thanks

molerat

When were they last on the road and who is the registered keeper ?

dnet

I've owned the newst one since may last year and the other i bought in december 2010

they're in my name. i think they were on the road until just before i got them as they were MOT failures. neither of them came with tax

James

Wig

As they have never been on the road under your name and they are registered in your name... you should take note of the following

• You can send a SORN declaration to DVLA
• DVLA may very well lose your declaration
• You have no obligation to chase DVLA for a letter of SORN confirmation if one does not arrive irrespective of what DVLA will tell you
• DVLA may then send you a demand for payment
• You may then choose to tell DVLA to stick it where the sun does not shine and "see you in court"
• DVLA will be unlikely to take you to court
• but if they do... the Interpretations Act defence should get you a win in court

What you do with the above information is up to you.

So you did a "vehicle enquiry" on this website.... and it said vehicle not found? How strange.

Road_Hog

Wig wrote: »

[*]DVLA may then send you a demand for payment
[*]You may then choose to tell DVLA to stick it where the sun does not shine and "see you in court"
[*]DVLA will be unlikely to take you to court

They farm it out to some limited company. Which you either ignore or tell them that you have no contract with them and to shove it.

They then leave you alone. I had the situation where I SORN'd a car, but didn't bother to re-SORN it after 12 months. My view is, once you've made a declaration that it is off road (and the vehicle is actually off road), then until you inform the DVLA otherwise, that is the continuing situation.

There is no other reason other than a money making exercise that you should have to re-inform the DVLA every 12 months. Especially with all the ANPR cameras about these days.

There's a good reason that the DVLA don't try to take you to court and farm it out to a private limited company and that is because they don't have a leg to stand on. However, most people will capitulate to any legal threat and pay up.

paddedjohn

call the dvla and ask them why you havnt yet received a sorn reminder, play dumb and insist you did sorn them last year.

TrickyWicky

Wig wrote: »

So you did a "vehicle enquiry" on this website.... and it said vehicle not found? How strange.

One of two things has happened:

1) It's mysteriously been recorded as scrapped
2) [most likely] because there has been no sorn declaration or retaxing of the vehicle they've taken it off the system to make it hard for the owner to retax it online without coming forth and taking a fine.

As you say if they keep loosing things thats their problem.

Shoshannah

It is rather strange that the vehicle is 'not found' - this does not bode well. If the car is still registered but not taxed or SORN'd then it will be displayed as 'unlicensed'.

I was in the same situation a few years ago. I purchased a SORN'd vehicle and did not re-declare SORN. I realised a couple of years later what I had done, and feared a fine.

The DVLA will not send any reminders under these circumstances, nor are they obligated to (all reminders for tax and SORN are a courtesy, not receiving one is not a defence for not renewing as it is your responsibility).

In the end I notified the DVLA. They sent me a fine plus a demand for back-payment of tax - I can't remember the exact amount, was around £300. I sent them a letter admitting responsibility for not declaring SORN properly but explaining that the car had not been used or kept on a public road during that time (which is true - the car is a non-runner with no engine, and kept on a private driveway).

They responded saying the fine was optional and that 'probably nothing' would happen if I did not pay it. I didn't pay it, and now 3 years later nothing more has come of it.

Based on my experiences, I would contact the DVLA and explain. If you do get a fine, chances are it will not be pursued - but I can't tell you for sure that it will not.