SORN car, daft questions

Red-Squirrel_2

Sorry for asking what I am pretty sure is a stupid question!

I've just SORNED my car today and stuck it in the garage as I've had a company car delivered for my new job. Its really clear on the gov.uk site that it doesn't have to be taxed or insured, but all it says about MOT is that it can be driven while SORNed to a pre-booked test. I'm assuming the MOT can lapse while its off the road and just needs doing if I want to drive it again but it doesn't seem to explicitly say anywhere 'a SORN car does not need a valid MOT' so just seeking reassurance please!

Also, how often would you recommend starting the car and running the engine to keep the battery going? Was thinking once a month, its a 10 year old car but in reasonably good nick.

Tothepoint.

You only need an mot if you want to use the vehicle on a road.

paddedjohn

You can take the SORNed car for mot but you must have insurance if taking it on the road

Red-Squirrel_2

paddedjohn wrote: »

You can take the SORNed car for mot but you must have insurance if taking it on the road

Yes, I realise that, I just wanted to be 100% sure that I don't need to keep a valid MOT for the car while its off the road.

flashg67

I'd disconnect the battery, or fit a quick dis-connecter to the battery (£6 on ebay) if it won't be used much

Richard53

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Also, how often would you recommend starting the car and running the engine to keep the battery going? Was thinking once a month, its a 10 year old car but in reasonably good nick.

When you run the engine, run it until it is fully warmed-up (about 15 minutes). Otherwise, don't bother. Running an engine without getting it warm will mean that corrosive chemicals are created which don't get away and remain in the engine; condensation in the exhaust pipe will cause it to rust; and your battery will end up flat as you aren't replacing what you have used by starting it up.


Modern cars don't really need laying up for short periods. Leave the handbrake off and roll the car a few inches every week to avoid flat spots on the tyres. Take out the battery and charge it on the bench every month. If it's going to be out of use for 6 months or more, sell it, unless it is rare or uniquely valuable to you.

pelo_2

You don't need an mot.

AdrianC

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Yes, I realise that, I just wanted to be 100% sure that I don't need to keep a valid MOT for the car while its off the road.

You certainly do not need an MOT for a SORNed car.

If you did, then what would people do about cars that failed the MOT (or weren't taken for one) but were being stored for later fixing?

<looks around own fleet> Umm, three currently.

SORN means "It's not taxed, and it's not going anywhere". You need nothing else for it.
If you're taking it on the road, it needs insurance and it may need an MOT.
If you're taxing it, it needs an MOT at the time the tax starts, and it needs insurance throughout the period it is taxed.

Red-Squirrel_2

AdrianC wrote: »

You certainly do not need an MOT for a SORNed car.

If you did, then what would people do about cars that failed the MOT (or weren't taken for one) but were being stored for later fixing?

<looks around own fleet> Umm, three currently.

SORN means "It's not taxed, and it's not going anywhere". You need nothing else for it.
If you're taking it on the road, it needs insurance and it may need an MOT.
If you're taxing it, it needs an MOT at the time the tax starts, and it needs insurance throughout the period it is taxed.

:rotfl:

I know, I've told myself all that, but I'm just a bit paranoid because it says really clearly everywhere that you don't need insurance or tax, but nowhere explicitly that you don't need an MOT. They should add a really clear line in somewhere for over cautious fools like me!

Red-Squirrel_2

Richard53 wrote: »

When you run the engine, run it until it is fully warmed-up (about 15 minutes). Otherwise, don't bother. Running an engine without getting it warm will mean that corrosive chemicals are created which don't get away and remain in the engine; condensation in the exhaust pipe will cause it to rust; and your battery will end up flat as you aren't replacing what you have used by starting it up.


Modern cars don't really need laying up for short periods. Leave the handbrake off and roll the car a few inches every week to avoid flat spots on the tyres. Take out the battery and charge it on the bench every month. If it's going to be out of use for 6 months or more, sell it, unless it is rare or uniquely valuable to you.

Thanks for that, very helpful.

I don't know how long it will be off the road, I'm waiting to see how the new job pans out. If i don't really like it and move on within a year I don't want to have to shell out for another car when I've got one here now that's old but has proven itself to be reliable and cheap to run.

LadyDee

When I had to SORN my car the MOT ran out during that period (same time as service was due). I didn't want a gap in the MOT record so I got a mobile mechanic to service it and take it for its MOT on his insurace. So when I wanted to use it again I just taxed and insured it and it was ready to go.