SORN Vehicle - fine

chrism63

Hi, I have a motorcycle owned for 30 years, it was last on the road in August 1997, road tax expired 28/02/98. Bike has been stored in a garage on private property & forgotten about since.
I hadnt sent the V5 away when I moved in 2001, I have recently notified change of address & have a correct V5C.
I recently got it running & re-insured, MOT'd & now trying to tax it, however the DVLA website advised me there is a "Gap in licencing", I did not proceed with the application.
Seems I had not decared it sorn, SORN came in on 31/01/1998. (1 month before my tax expired)
This is genuine ignorance/mistake on my part maybe not realising as I had taken the bike off the road in 1997 & forgot about it untill this year.

Am I liable for back dated tax & or a fine? I need to know the best way forward, I have not spoken to DVLA in fear of incrimminating myself.

Please advise

chris

Hintza

I found this on another forum call up the DVLA and ask them they won't know who you are:-

I'm in the same situation (bought a car which hasn't been on the road since early 1990s. I have been 'reliably' informed by the DVLA that if the car has been off the road since before SORN was required, then you don't need to SORN now. However, if you tax the car and then ever decide to take it off the road, you'll need to SORN.

chrism63

My problem is the bike was off the road before SORN came in bit the tax disc expired 1 month after that date. so what do I do? just re-tax it from 1st of this month & hope for the best?

Hintza

Phone the DVLA and say look I have a vehicle that has been of road since 1997, has never been SORN what is the procedure for getting it back on the road re VED. Alternatively take all your docs to the post office (which might be easier if they can deal with it but perhaps worth a try).

AdrianC

Just tax it.

If anything comes back to bite you, deal with it then. But, tbh, I think it's unlikely given that we're talking about something that's been unlicenced that long.

droopsnoot

chrism63 wrote: »

My problem is the bike was off the road before SORN came

It wasn't though - in the eyes of the DVLA, it was still on the road for a month after SORN came in.

Phone them and ask, would be my view. If you're worried about them finding out who you are, phone them from a friends house, but they will probably ask you for the registration number of the vehicle anyway, before they answer any questions.