Declare car SORN for 6 months - anyone done this?

[Deleted User]

It's now August and we've hardly used our car at all this summer (we live in a very bicycle friendly place and it's small, so easy to walk around, and also has a good bus service). I can pick up shopping on my way home from work and can "piggyback" my parents' weekly shopping delivery (so buy the heavier things on that). We had the idea that maybe we could just run our car during the colder months and a possibility would be to declare the car SORN, say, in March, and not use it again until the Autumn, and then buy 6 months car insurance and road tax.

If we didn't run the car for 6 months, we reckon, at current prices, we'd save around £2,000 - enough for a very nice holiday every year).

Wondered if anyone-else had ever tried this and what are the possible pitfalls ??

Thanks

lizziebabe

It's a good idea but you would need to think about the car. It needs to be off the main road, do you have a private drive? Also, you would probably need to disconnect the battery and remove the petrol from the tank. My friend left her car with me whilst she went travelling for 7 months, and as there was no insurance I couldn't take it for a drive.

On return the battery was dead so that had to be replaced and there was mould growing on it, mind you it was winter here. There was obviously no air circulation. The petrol had evaporated, so the tank neede refilling. She has had problems with it since and wonders if it was because she left it undriven for 7 months.

I am sure that more knowledgeable people than me will be on here to help.

jonathon

I do the same thing with my motorbike tax it 1st of may and run it for 6 months then sorn it for 6 months.
one thing is because it only £68 pounds a year to insure I do keep it insured when its parked in the garage for the winter months just in case it gets stolen.

AndyPK

You can certainly save money on tax.

I insure mine all year round though. Which I think u need for Ncb etc.

Cars which are getting old dont like being parked up.
More things will go wrong, so if its cheap to tax it's probably worth doing.

[Deleted User]

It would sit on our driveway all the way through the Spring & Summer - so I don't think air circulation would be a problem.

Good point about the insurance, though. It could still get stolen (though if I drained the petrol tank they'd need a large truck !)

nearlyrich

I would research it carefully as I am almost sure that you have to have valid insurance on a car that is SORN, I did have a car on SORN on my driveway for almost two years but the insurance scenario was changing as I sold it.

lizziebabe

This might help:

http://moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/insurance/insure-your-car--even-if-its-off-the-road/

My son had his car on my private drive and SORNed without insurance. However it was a wreck and we had to get rid of it.

I think the insurance would cover damage and if it was stolen.

However as you say could be difficult with no petrol and no battery :rotfl:

AndyPK

I think the new law is that if its taxed it had to be insured.

Rover_Driver

nearlyrich wrote: »

I would research it carefully as I am almost sure that you have to have valid insurance on a car that is SORN, I did have a car on SORN on my driveway for almost two years but the insurance scenario was changing as I sold it.

A vehicle has to be both licensed and insured, or, if not used or kept on a public road, it can be SORN instead of the licence and insurance.

[Deleted User]

lizziebabe wrote: »

This might help:

http://moneyfacts.co.uk/guides/insurance/insure-your-car--even-if-its-off-the-road/

My son had his car on my private drive and SORNed without insurance. However it was a wreck and we had to get rid of it.

I think the insurance would cover damage and if it was stolen.

Thanks for that link. It looks like I wouldn't need insurance with a SORN (though might be able to get a cheaper one covering just fire and theft). Will have to think it through. Trying to be a bit creative about where we can save money. About to lose my job so every penny counts ... :sad:

GAZ237

The fuel is not going to go stale in 6 months.

So no need to drain the petrol out.

Starting it up every couple of weeks and moving it back and forwards is not a bad idea. Leave it running for 15 mins or until it gets up to temp.