Car MOT and road tax expires whilst abroad

scubascuba3

I leave my car parked in the road outside my house. MOT and tax are due to expire whilst I'm abroad. Can I MOT and tax it as soon as I get back?

vikingaero

You can MOT your car a month in advance of expiry and also set up a Direct Debit (full, half yearly or monthly) payment for the car tax.

scubascuba3

vikingaero wrote: »

You can MOT your car a month in advance of expiry and also set up a Direct Debit (full, half yearly or monthly) payment for the car tax.

I'll be out of the country for 2 months + prior to MOT due date

angrycrow

Easy solution mot the car before you go and tax the car online whilst away, there are not many placed left in the world where you can't get online for a few minutes. If this will not be possible leave the v5 and cash for tax with a relative to tax it whilst you are away.

Not money saving but you could put the car into secure storage for 2 months but then you would need to mot it the day you collected it.

What you should not do is ignore the problem and hope for the best, the best will be a fine from dvla the worst could be them towing the car away for being left on a public road untaxed.

scubascuba3

angrycrow wrote: »

Easy solution mot the car before you go and tax the car online whilst away, there are not many placed left in the world where you can't get online for a few minutes. If this will not be possible leave the v5 and cash for tax with a relative to tax it whilst you are away.

Not money saving but you could put the car into secure storage for 2 months but then you would need to mot it the day you collected it.

What you should not do is ignore the problem and hope for the best, the best will be a fine from dvla the worst could be them towing the car away for being left on a public road untaxed.

Yes I think that's a good plan to get the MOT done before I leave. I'll do this unless I can store off road somewhere

scubascuba3

If I opt for the store off road option. Can I drive the car to a prebooked mot centre with both mot and tax expired?

vikingaero

Yes. Just make sure the MOT centre takes your registration number and name so they can quote it over the phone to the Police if necessary.

scubascuba3

I guess if kept off road the SORN declaration is obligatory if the tax has expired?

tho_2

If you go with storage declare it sorn now, just makes sure it's done so you won't get hit by the database.

tho_2

Sorry, cross posted, but yes it's obligatory.

Nodding_Donkey

tho wrote: »

If you go with storage declare it sorn now, just makes sure it's done so you won't get hit by the database.

How can you say that when you don't know when the OP is going away?


OP do NOT do this. SORN the car when you actually put it into storage.