Declare car SORN for 6 months - anyone done this?

Iceweasel

Like loads of others I only use my camper over the summer months and have it 'laid up' over the winter - from October to March.

I only tax it for 6 months and have it on SORN for the other 6 months.

It is insured for 12 months as normal, but when I SORN it I return the insurance certificate and change the cover to Fire & Theft only.

I then get a refund when I eventually re-licence it.

worried_jim

GAZ237 wrote: »

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.

A friend had a Porsche 924 sat for over two years with out starting and was a bit concerned about the petrol going stale but it still started ok.

facade

As said already, there is no problem.
I used to SORN my MGB throughout the winter, and I SORN my Harley Davidson also.

I only save on the tax, as I keep them insured.

6 month insurance is expensive (pro-rata), and may not contribute to your No Claims Discount

I hook the battery upto an Optimate charger over winter, which keeps the battery fully charged.

Guest101

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.

No you do not need insurance on a sorn vehicle, or any vehicle which is not used on public roads. (which is what sorn is)

Aretnap

If the car is not being used on the roads and you're worried about it being nicked you can get laid up insurance (Google it) which covers it against fire, theft etc, but not anything to do with road accidents. It's comsiderably cheaper than normal car insurance. It doesn't count as insurance for the purposes of the Road Traffic Act of course, so the car still has to be SORNed.

rs65

Iceweasel wrote: »

It is insured for 12 months as normal, but when I SORN it I return the insurance certificate and change the cover to Fire & Theft only.

I would go for ADF&T.

marlot

As others have said, the petrol will probably be fine, but it can gum up the system. Rather than drain the tank, I'd mix in some petrol preservative (available from frost automotive). This is what I did with my motorbike after I found the carb was gummed up one spring - never have the problem again.