SORN and taxing a new vehicle

elfie87

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone could answer a query about taxing a second hand vehicle that I've recently purchased? I'm due to pick up the car tomorrow but then plan on registering it as off road 7 days later. (I'm due to have a caesarean section in 7 days time and won't be able to drive for approximately 6 weeks after, so I'm planning to only start paying insurance once I'm able to drive again. I have 7 days free insurance cover from the dealers to tide me over in the meantime).

Am I right in thinking that I need to tax the vehicle from tomorrow, and then I will be refunded the tax for the period that it remains under a SORN? Or is there another way to do it?

Thanks in advance!

bigadaj

You only get refunded whole months tax so if you pick up now and sworn in a week, then relax in six weeks you won't actually receive any refund.

I'd want the car to have insurance even if not driven, what happens if it gets stolen or vandalised?

elfie87

Thanks for replying bigadaj. The car will be in a locked garage in a safe neighbourhood so I'm not concerned about theft or vandalism.

I hadn't realised that you only get whole months of tax refunded. Presumably I'd get one month back if I didn't use it for 6 weeks though? I was wondering if it was possible to delay paying tax until 6 weeks time, but I assume it needs to be paid before driving it away from the dealers?

peter_the_piper

Can you get the dealer to deliver it, with trade plates, would this not be covered for tax then?

AdrianC

elfie87 wrote: »

I hadn't realised that you only get whole months of tax refunded. Presumably I'd get one month back if I didn't use it for 6 weeks though?

Depends on how those six weeks fall - you might SORN it a week into December, then retax it a week before the end of Jan - so both Dec and Jan have to be paid for, so zero saving.

angrycrow

Is the car on finance because most finance companies make it condition if the policy to insure the car fully comp. Appreciate it will be locked in a garage but theft or fire is still a risk is it really a good risk just to save 5 weeks premium.