Fined for not having insurance

the_don_one

I have received a fixed penalty fine for having no insurance on my car. My car is locked away in the garage and has been there for nearly a year with the battery disconnected whilst it has been up for sale. I have kept it taxed in case any buyers wanted to take it for a test drive as long as they were covered on their insurance of course. I have had no interested people yet so the car has not even been on the road for all the time it has been taxed. The road tax cost me £445 and the car has not been on the road. The fine is a further £100 if I dont pay before the second of June or £50 If paid before that date. I have bought a diesel car which is insured in my name during the time the other car has been off the road but the policy does not cover any other cars owned by me.
Does anybody have any idea if there is any way I could appeal against the fine or should I just pay up.:(

nearlyrich

I believe they changed the law about a year ago and you have to insure a car unless it is subject to SORN...

Directgov has info for you

lesalanos

it either needs to be insured or SORN

http://www.mib.org.uk/Motor+Insurance+Database/en/Continuous+Insurance+Enforcement/default.htm

beaten by nearlyrich

cajef

It is now mandatory to have a vehicle insured if it is taxed even if kept off road unless declared SORN, as your car is taxed it has to be insured, afraid you will just have to pay up.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/insurance/2011/02/warning-over-new-car-insurance-rules

marywooyeah

out of interest, why is the road tax so much? I've just paid £135 for a year and you said yours has been in the garage for a year so I'm failing to see why it was so much.

rs65

marywooyeah wrote: »

out of interest, why is the road tax so much? I've just paid £135 for a year and you said yours has been in the garage for a year so I'm failing to see why it was so much.

'Been in the garage' has no relevance.
CO2 emission based. I'm guessing £445 will be £460 next time.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_10012524

paddedjohn

When you took your car off the road and uninsured it you should have sorned it and returned the tax for a refund.
You could try the 'i sorned it last year and its not my fault you havnt updated your records' excuse, it may work.

Joe_Horner

paddedjohn wrote: »

When you took your car off the road and uninsured it you should have sorned it and returned the tax for a refund.
You could try the 'i sorned it last year and its not my fault you havnt updated your records' excuse, it may work.

He could try it but they might question why he hadn't returned the tax for refund.

Technically you don't HAVE to surrender the tax to declare SORN for insurance. DVLA seem to be finally recognising that and now suggest that you "may wish to apply for a refund" if you declare SORN with tax left rather than requiring surrender of the disk as part of the SORN process.

They'd probably be unconvinced about a decision to keep a £400 tax disc if you claimed to have made the declaration but, as you say, you DID have a reason.

adamc260

You can get insurance like Fire and theft only... its normally quite cheap about £40-50 for the year?

paddedjohn

Joe_Horner wrote: »

He could try it but they might question why he hadn't returned the tax for refund.

Technically you don't HAVE to surrender the tax to declare SORN for insurance. DVLA seem to be finally recognising that and now suggest that you "may wish to apply for a refund" if you declare SORN with tax left rather than requiring surrender of the disk as part of the SORN process.

They'd probably be unconvinced about a decision to keep a £400 tax disc if you claimed to have made the declaration but, as you say, you DID have a reason.

Not according to DIRECTGOV.COM.

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

• When to make a SORN

The change in the law means, you will only be able to take your vehicle off the road and cancel your insurance by returning your tax disc to DVLA.
It must be returned on a V14 (application form for a refund of a tax disc) and SORN declared at the same time.

• Download 'Apply for a vehicle licence refund (form V14)' (PDF, 166K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

How does this law affect a vehicle used only in the summer?
If you have a vehicle that is still taxed but not insured, you could face a penalty. This includes vintage and classic cars, motorbikes and motor homes – all vehicles that people sometimes leave uninsured for part of the year. If this applies to you, you need to return the tax disc on a V14 (including nil value discs) and declare SORN at the same time.

Rolandtheroadie

adamc260 wrote: »

You can get insurance like Fire and theft only... its normally quite cheap about £40-50 for the year?

Seriously?

I do mines Fire and Theft but its closer to £200. (rural low crime area, 38 years old, 8k miles a year, 20 years driving, 13 years NCB)

What company does it for 40-50?