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Help with SORN/Buy/Insure car

mark55man
mark55man Posts: 8,141 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
DS1 is learning to drive - test booked late September and we are confident - but anything can happen!!.

The son of a family friend has a car which we know to be sound and cheap but he is returning home (overseas) so we want to buy the car - we already have it on the driveway with valid tax disc and his insurance is active.

My plan is to do the following (but this is all new to me)

* buy the car soonish (or it will be put on open market)
* Its taxed until end September so no worthwhile refund so will let the tax run out (I am covered to drive it on my own insurance)
* SORN it when tax has run out (will be kept on driveway but not in garage)
* wait until DS passes his test then retax and then he will insure

Couple of questions

* Is it legal for the SORN car to be uninsured (it is not that desirable TBH), or do I need to take out some temporary Theft insurance
* Is there a better way of doing this eg putting the car in my name until he is clear to drive when DS will need insurance in his name, or just keeping it taxed as its in a low band

Thanks in advance - hope this makes sense
I think I saw you in an ice cream parlour
Drinking milk shakes, cold and long
Smiling and waving and looking so fine

Comments

  • Paula_Smith
    Paula_Smith Posts: 308 Forumite
    Eighth Anniversary 100 Posts Name Dropper
    You do not need to insure the car if it is declared SORN and kept off road. It might be a good idea to immobilise it somehow to make it more difficult to be stolen - remove the fuse for the ignition circuit maybe (but dont loose it)
  • Rover_Driver
    Rover_Driver Posts: 1,516 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 4 August 2014 at 10:44PM
    mark88man wrote: »
    * Its taxed until end September so no worthwhile refund so will let the tax run out
    * SORN it when tax has run out (will be kept on driveway but


    It needs to be taxed and insured unless it is off the road and SORN, so if it is not insured, surrender the disc for a refund and declare it SORN now and keep it off the road.
  • mark55man
    mark55man Posts: 8,141 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Thanks


    Will get on with buying it and then SORN straight away
    I think I saw you in an ice cream parlour
    Drinking milk shakes, cold and long
    Smiling and waving and looking so fine
  • trailingspouse
    trailingspouse Posts: 4,042 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    For some cars, insurers won't cover Fire and Theft only. In our case they wanted Third Party Fire and Theft (even though they knew I was going to declare SORN), but that turned out to be more expensive than Comprehensive!
    No longer a spouse, or trailing, but MSE won't allow me to change my username...
  • jimjames
    jimjames Posts: 18,278 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    It needs to be taxed and insured unless it is off the road and SORN, so if it is not insured, surrender the disc for a refund and declare it SORN now and keep it off the road.

    Interested to read this.

    Does this mean if a car is taxed it has to be insured too?

    My insurance runs out today and I was going to let it lapse as car is currently in my garage not being used. Once I'm ready to use again I will take out new policy. Does that mean my plan isn't viable?
    Remember the saying: if it looks too good to be true it almost certainly is.
  • forgotmyname
    forgotmyname Posts: 32,820 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    You should SORN the vehicle when the insurance expires and return the tax.

    Depends how long the tax runs for and whether you plan to re-insure it sooner rather
    than later though.

    If its only a short time then you could probably get away with it. 2 - 4 weeks and your probably best to SORN it.
    Censorship Reigns Supreme in Troll City...

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