Garage left SORN vehicle on public road

Psychicwin

So my car has been at the garage for over a month for repairs. It was a SORN vehicle with no tax and no MOT. I had to tow it to the garage as it wasn’t allowed on the road. I work full time so I couldn’t visit the garage. Instead I have been calling them regularly and haven’t got any response until yesterday.

I called yesterday for an update on the repairs and the mechanic replies “Hi, you’ll need to call back tomorrow”. I called today and the mechanic says that my car has been clamped this morning. I didn’t tell them that the car was SORN but I didn’t go there myself to drop the car. Plus, I was under the assumption they would keep the car on their land. AND if someone tows a car to you clearly it shouldn’t be on the road 😤.

So now the mechanic can’t repair the car as it’s been clamped and he’s asking me to pay and get it removed. I feel like this is very unfair. Could I get some advice on this situation? Much appreciated.

tedted

should have been on a trailer to get it there,being towed is still on the road

neilmcl

How was the garage supposed to know it was SORNed unless you tell them. Yes it's unfortunate but it's just one of those things I'm afraid, it's you responsibility to ensure the car is not on the road, which includes informing others if you hand the vehicle over to someone else.

You could try appealing to DVLA but I'm not sure if they'll take the circumstance into account.

AdrianC

They didn't check, you assumed and didn't warn them...



As RK, it's legally your problem - and the longer you leave it, the more likely it is to be impounded, and the higher your eventual bill is going to be.

If the garage are any good, then they'll put their hands up, and come to some kind of agreement with you over the bill.

Car_54

Psychicwin wrote: »

if someone tows a car to you clearly it shouldn’t be on the road 😤.

No, clearly it needs fixed. That's what garages do.


And if it was SORNed it should have been trailered, not towed.

neilmcl

tedted wrote: »

should have been on a trailer to get it there,being towed is still on the road

It depends how it was towed.

neilmcl

AdrianC wrote: »

They didn't check

And why should they. The garage made an assumption but it was a fair and reasonable one.

foxy-stoat

tedted wrote: »

should have been on a trailer to get it there,being towed is still on the road

Bit late for that advice and doesnt help the OP in his current situation.

Registered Keeper is responsible for the fine and to get it unclamped so you better pay that as soon as possible before it gets towed away and storage charges start or it gets crushed.

You can then argue the toss with the garage as to why it was on a public road and for them to pay for the release fee, or some of it but I assume that cost will now be added to the bill if they havent quoted or started the work yet. You didnt tell it was SORN doubt any garage would check before moving it off their land.

I would pay the fee and move it to another garage for repairs.

Psychicwin

Sorry by ‘towed’ I meant it was full on a recovery vehicle. Wasn’t sure what the correct word was.

Aylesbury_Duck

You may be Psychicwin but the garage are probably not psychic. If you didn't tell them, it's not their fault. How were they going to be able to legally test-drive the vehicle (which would be a perfectly normal thing to do) if you've SORNed it?

neilmcl

Psychicwin wrote: »

Sorry by ‘towed’ I meant it was full on a recovery vehicle. Wasn’t sure what the correct word was.

That's OK then, as long as it's not towed where all four wheels are on the ground then it's not illegal.