Help with SORN please

busiscoming2

Back story:
DS bought a moped back in June, insured it and used it for a couple of days till the engine broke. He got another bike which he is still using and consequently insuring. The original bike has been unused, uninsured (tax till Dec 14) in the garage ever since. He has received a letter about the need to SORN or insure the bike.

I have gone online to do this. My problem is this; the start date of the SORN is automatically set at 1st October 14. Should I just leave this or contact them by phone tomorrow? I am worried there will be some sort of penalty if I don't explain the gap between June and now?

molerat

There will most likely be a penalty to pay as the bike has been uninsured since June, the law requires any vehicle that is not SORN to be insured. It may be possible to avoid this penalty but would involve lying !

busiscoming2

molerat wrote: »

There will most likely be a penalty to pay as the bike has been uninsured since June, the law requires any vehicle that is not SORN to be insured. It may be possible to avoid this penalty but would involve lying !

I don't understand how we could lie anyway. The point is the bike has been undriveable for June - present time period and has not been used and kept in a garage?

molerat

busiscoming2 wrote: »

I don't understand how we could lie anyway. The point is the bike has been undriveable for June - present time period and has not been used and kept in a garage?

Which in the eyes of the law is irrelevant as any motor vehicle that is not subject to SORN needs to be insured https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-insurance/uninsured-vehicles

HappyMJ

busiscoming2 wrote: »

I don't understand how we could lie anyway. The point is the bike has been undriveable for June - present time period and has not been used and kept in a garage?

You know that...the DVLA don't.

Marvel1

If the letter is a warning to SORN or insure, if neither risk a fine, then by doing either you are ok.

busiscoming2

cjdavies wrote: »

If the letter is a warning to SORN or insure, if neither risk a fine, then by doing either you are ok.

Yes it is this sort of letter. I have now done the SORN.

glynb

SORN only applies to the tax on the vehicle. As it has not been used on the road it makes no difference if there is insurance or not or an MOT for that matter.

As the tax is still valid until December, you don't have to declare a SORN until Jan 1st 2015

Captaincodpiece

glynb wrote: »

SORN only applies to the tax on the vehicle. As it has not been used on the road it makes no difference if there is insurance or not or an MOT for that matter.

As the tax is still valid until December, you don't have to declare a SORN until Jan 1st 2015

Continuous insurance rule?

Does it not have to have insurance or be sorn and tha tax surrendered?

molerat

glynb wrote: »

SORN only applies to the tax on the vehicle. As it has not been used on the road it makes no difference if there is insurance or not or an MOT for that matter.

As the tax is still valid until December, you don't have to declare a SORN until Jan 1st 2015

Incorrect. From my link above

You do not need to insure your vehicle if it is kept off the road and declared as off the road (SORN). This rule is called ‘continuous insurance enforcement’.
If not, you could:

• get a fixed penalty of £100
• have your vehicle wheel-clamped, impounded or destroyed
• face a court prosecution, with a possible maximum fine of £1,000

specialboy

glynb wrote: »

SORN only applies to the tax on the vehicle. As it has not been used on the road it makes no difference if there is insurance or not or an MOT for that matter.

As the tax is still valid until December, you don't have to declare a SORN until Jan 1st 2015

Totally incorrect.