SORN for car kept on public road? Tax but no insurance (complicated)

buscape

Tilt wrote: »

Are you serious? Do you think by merely covering a car is an exemption from it having to being taxed and insured? And what about the additional offences of not displaying a current tax disc, not displaying number plates and reflectors?

I really despair at some of the 'advice' given out sometimes!

It doesn't need to be taxed or insured if it's not being driven. The directgov website makes no mention of the vehicle having to be on private land, only that the vehicle has to be off the road which I take to mean not being driven (I may well be wrong). When I sorned my car for 4 months last year it was left parked on a main road when plenty of police were passing daily and I had no issues.

Has anyone on here (or anywhere for that matter) actually had their car taken or clamped whilst it's been declared sorn and technically on the public highway but not actually being driven?

patman99

Nice to see yet another thread hijacked by a bunch of argumentative forumites all determined to have the final word.

Asked a Traffic Cop I know, and it is legal to place a cover over a numberplate. It is not legal for a CEO or Traffic Warden to lift/remove said cover.

OP, as it appears you have 2 vehicles, if one is on a driveway, then the easiest option should said drive be big enough, is to swap the vehicles over. If not, add the vehicle (assuming that your description of it as a 'Truck' means it is a 4x4 rather than a commercial vehicle) to your insurance. This gives you up to 28 days to either sell on vehicle or at least find somewhere to park it.

If I am wrong in my assumption and you only have 1 vehicle (your departed husband's) then you can get insurance on a pay monthly plan and then use the thing before it deteriates through lack of use. I found out how costly NOT regularly using my van was when I had to have all the brake pipes, 2 rear wheel cylinders and 1 front brake caliper replaced for the MOT. Cost me £575. Still doesn't stop any better, but at least the thing passed its MOT.

Sgt_Pepper_2

buscape wrote: »

It doesn't need to be taxed or insured if it's not being driven. The directgov website makes no mention of the vehicle having to be on private land, only that the vehicle has to be off the road which I take to mean not being driven (I may well be wrong). When I sorned my car for 4 months last year it was left parked on a main road when plenty of police were passing daily and I had no issues.

Has anyone on here (or anywhere for that matter) actually had their car taken or clamped whilst it's been declared sorn and technically on the public highway but not actually being driven?

You still committed the offence of using the vehicle without insurance.

Tilt

buscape wrote: »

It doesn't need to be taxed or insured if it's not being driven. The directgov website makes no mention of the vehicle having to be on private land, only that the vehicle has to be off the road which I take to mean not being driven (I may well be wrong). When I sorned my car for 4 months last year it was left parked on a main road when plenty of police were passing daily and I had no issues.

Has anyone on here (or anywhere for that matter) actually had their car taken or clamped whilst it's been declared sorn and technically on the public highway but not actually being driven?

Yes, you are certainly wrong. The clue is in the 'kept off road' bit and i'm sorry, I can't believe that you seem to be so naive of the rules (although it appears that you are not the only one).

A car must either be continuously taxed and insured or declared SORNd. To qualify for SORN, it must be kept on private land thus 'off road'. It appears that you have been very lucky (so far) but if someone reports you car as either displaying an out of date tax disc or no disc at all while it is parked on a public road, then the DVLA usually swings into action and you would most likely receive a penalty and be charge 'back tax' to cover the period from the time the previous disc expired. More seriously, if the car is uninsured then the car can be seized and you would be prosecuted.

This may help you understand the rules;

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_069243.pdf

Tilt

patman99 wrote: »

Asked a Traffic Cop I know, and it is legal to place a cover over a numberplate. It is not legal for a CEO or Traffic Warden to lift/remove said cover.

was he on his way to a fancy dress party?

A few years ago in the area I live, a car owner was prosecuted for having his car covered while parked in the street on the basis of it not having any reflectors, not displaying a valid VED and having no number plates. Mind you, it had been struck by another motorist in thick fog and was parked on a road with a 40mph speed limit. I'm sure you could be right about a CEO not having the authority to 'pull the cover up' but i'm sure a police officer has the power to do so.

If your 'traffic cop' was right, don't you think it would be a tad easy for thousands of determined road tax dodgers to avoid being caught by simply covering their cars over?

fivetide

Tilt wrote: »

Talking of 'epic thread reading fail', You havn't read post #43 then...

Doesn't say she has actually done it. As you declared.

tilt wrote:

i'm sure a police officer has the power to do so

So you don't actually know for a fact do you?

patman99 is right, you've shown yourself up enough for one thread I think. Do leave it alone now eh?

Uneeded sarcasm here:

tilt wrote:

was he on his way to a fancy dress party?

As already said, I have seen people do this first hand and the wardens couldn't touch them so I doubt patman is making it up, unlike you who is simply ruffling feathers (trolling?) for the sake of it now.

However, once again, there must be something to prevent it otherwise lots of scrotes would do it.

5t.

Tilt

@ Fivetide;

Quote; "I have made the decision to SORN the truck in the first instance".

And you say: She has not declared it SORN at all.

So who's the troll now?

As for facts.... yes, you maybe right, but then again you are most likely not. Lets put it like this, I am 99.9% sure a police officer could use a number of reasons to justify removing the cover to identify a car.

So at least we seem to be agreeing on one point by your last sentence which is nice.

Josecb727

It is quite sad you had lost your loved one, it is seeming quite obvious that the 'great Britain' has a very inhuman and anti people legislation as far as money issues is concerned. Taking a look at so many of the laws in place you find out that the laws that are meant to protect the people are made to harm them and make money for the dvla and it's agent. It's a great pity that we all happen to be on the receiving end. I strongly believe it is hight time all this agencies are scrapped dvla and it's cronies as they are not doing the people any good. I will advice you park the car at friends or family till you are ready to move to the country side as no part of the law protects your fundamental human right. As you could be arbitrarily fined. I think it's hight time we have a referendum on virtually all the laws in the country as there seem to be no law protecting the people the laws are only operational for the government to extort money from the people. It's high time we need a change in this. Country. So much legislation and agents tfl, dvla, the police and all and none of them are on the people's side. What a pity Great Britain.

forgotmyname

2012....

Rather late to park it at a friends house don't you think?