Need advice with SORN, MOT and road tax

szyblaszczyk

Hi everybody!

Here is my story. :-)

I want to make a SORN on my car starting from 30th of June until beginning of August.
The reason is that in August I will be owner of the car for more than 1 year in my first year in UK so it means much cheaper (200 pounds) insurance.

So to sum up...
- my current MOT ends on 27th of June
- my insurance ends on 30th of June
- I want to drive again in the beginning of August

The question is when should I do in your opinion MOT? How is it working if it comes to road tax?

My idea is:
1) Do MOT in the beginning of August (AFAIK I can go to do MOT without any risk with police/insurance? How about mechanic if I need to fix something? Can I drive too?)
2) Cancel road tax in June to not pay it in July (is it possible? is it going to happen automatically when I make a SORN?)

How do you think? Thanks!

angrycrow

If the car is currently taxed and insured get the mot done before you lay the car up. You can mot it up to one month early and the remaining mot period gets added to the new period so you can have up to 13 months.

Selling the car in the future will also be easier if there is not a gap in the mot history.

With regard to Sorning the car, if you do it must be kept off the road with the exception of driving to or home from a pre booked mot. Do you have somewhere to keep the car off road.

If you decide not to do the mot before laying the car up you could legally drive it to the mot without tax but it must be insured to do so.
Cars often don't respond well to being layed up unused and braking and electrical problems can follow.

ARandomMiser

Are you intending to keep some sort of insurance on the vehicle - even if just for accidental damage or in case of fire etc.?

AdrianC

szyblaszczyk wrote: »

So to sum up...
- my current MOT ends on 27th of June
- my insurance ends on 30th of June
- I want to drive again in the beginning of August

The question is when should I do in your opinion MOT? How is it working if it comes to road tax?

My idea is:
1) Do MOT in the beginning of August (AFAIK I can go to do MOT without any risk with police/insurance? How about mechanic if I need to fix something? Can I drive too?)

You can MOT it any time after 27th May, and keep the same expiry date. The car needs to be insured when you take it to the test, but can be SORNed.

If it fails, you can drive it to a garage for repairs without a current MOT, but it MUST be safe and roadworthy, just like it always has to be. You just have less excuse if you've been told it's not...

2) Cancel road tax in June to not pay it in July (is it possible? is it going to happen automatically when I make a SORN?)

Yes, SORNing cancels the tax, and refunds any complete unused months (if you paid the year in one go), or stops the DD if you pay monthly. Once the insurance expires, the car MUST be SORNed until it's re-insured. It'll need a valid MOT on the day the tax starts.

Do you have somewhere off the road (private land, not a public car park) to park the car while it's uninsured and SORNed?

szyblaszczyk

Thanks for all your answers.

I have a private place to keep it for a month.
I think it's a very small risk so I'm not afraid to leave it just for this time without insurance. I definitely take battery out.

It's just a month so I hope there won't be any problems with the car after not using it.

I'm just thinking about running the car a few meters on this private land after 2 weeks and leave the engine on for 5-10 minutes . Worth to do this?

AdrianC

szyblaszczyk wrote: »

It's just a month so I hope there won't be any problems with the car after not using it.

I'm just thinking about running the car a few meters on this private land after 2 weeks and leave the engine on for 5-10 minutes . Worth to do this?

No.

For a month, just leave it. For longer, just leave it... Running the engine at idle for a handful of minutes will actually make things worse, because you won't get anything up to proper temperature - just warm enough to increase corrosive condensation.

AndyPK

MOT can been done 1 month before due.


However, if it needs repairs should be fixed within 10 days from failure otherwise you will incure a retest fee.


So get the mot done before you park it up.


Disconnecting the battery is a good idea. (if you have the radio code (if applicable)). or if you can't do that, as you say, start it up weekly.


If it's on flat ground, leave the car in a gear, and DON'T put the handbrake on too tight.


What car is it ?

szyblaszczyk

Thanks. But how about running or not running the engine? I got opposite advices from you.

It's 2002 Hyundai Coupe 1.6 S GK.