Advice please - SORN'd/Not SORN'd vehicle and fines

JimmyTheWig

If it is registered to your address, you think you SORNed it and the DVLA haven't sent you letters asking for tax for it my guess is that you SORNed it.

rich13348

Tax it and see what happens. They may not pick up on the fact it has not been sorned or taxed for 3 years. If they do just follow the above advise of stick to your guns saying you sent it.

Saintorsin2000

"If it is registered to your address, you think you SORNed it and the DVLA haven't sent you letters asking for tax for it my guess is that you SORNed it."

Thanks Jimmythewig and Rich. That is what I was thinking and the logic I was using. It's the fact but the website says it is not SORN that makes me nervous. Not sure whether to ask them to update the details as I sent the SORN or 'brass neck it' and tax it and see what happens. Do you guys reckon the latter?

paddedjohn

If the DVLA try to fine you for no sorn you just refuse to pay and insist you posted the sorn form and once sent its deemed delivered and not your problem. They may get their debt collectors to hound you for a while but stick to your guns and tell them to take you to court, they won't do this as then they have to call you a liar in court with no proof.
Written from experience by the way.

AdrianC

Saintorsin2000 wrote: »

Hi AdrianC, I'm thinking it was right at the beginning of 2013 that I sent away the paperwork. However, if it was late 2012 and I didn't re-do for late 2013, I'm guessing I would be in the same situation as I am just now? Wanting to make sure I don't get hit with a tax bill covering three years!

When exactly in 2013 does it show as being unlicenced from?

tommyjj

To un-sorn a vehicle, simply buy 6 month's tax for it.

Saintorsin2000

"When exactly in 2013 does it show as being unlicenced from?"

It is shown as untaxed from March 2013 and the MOT ran out in August 2013. It's not budged from private property since Feb 2013.

Thanks

Saintorsin2000

"If the DVLA try to fine you for no sorn you just refuse to pay and insist you posted the sorn form and once sent its deemed delivered and not your problem. They may get their debt collectors to hound you for a while but stick to your guns and tell them to take you to court, they won't do this as then they have to call you a liar in court with no proof.
Written from experience by the way."

That is good to know, thanks for the advice. Is it better to contact them to ask them why the SORN is not showing on their system as a first step or just do the ignorance is bliss and try and tax it? What did you do yourself?

paddedjohn

Saintorsin2000 wrote: »

"If the DVLA try to fine you for no sorn you just refuse to pay and insist you posted the sorn form and once sent its deemed delivered and not your problem. They may get their debt collectors to hound you for a while but stick to your guns and tell them to take you to court, they won't do this as then they have to call you a liar in court with no proof.
Written from experience by the way."

That is good to know, thanks for the advice. Is it better to contact them to ask them why the SORN is not showing on their system as a first step or just do the ignorance is bliss and try and tax it? What did you do yourself?

I sold a van and sent the relevant section of the log book back to them but six months later got hit with a fine for having an untaxed or unsorned vehicle. They hounded me for years but seem to have given up now. They tried to say that I never sent it so I called them out on it and quoted the communications act which says that a letter is deemed delivered when sent (no proof of required). As I said earlier, if they take you to court they are in effect calling you a liar and can't back it up.

AdrianC

Saintorsin2000 wrote: »

It is shown as untaxed from March 2013 and the MOT ran out in August 2013. It's not budged from private property since Feb 2013.

OK, that knocks out the "You SORNed it before NY 12/13, and it expired" theory.

It was simply never SORNed.