Declaring SORN on newly purchased car - is this right?

EdGasketTheSecond

So I purchased a car that I want to keep off the road for a while. I went to SORN it online and got as far as entering the Document Reference Number on the new keeper's slip (which is actually a photocopy - another story) but it says the number is invalid.


Then I rang up DVLA to query why it is invalid expecting the seller may have pulled a fast one on me but the DVLA lady told me that I am not the registered keeper yet and can't declare it SORN until I am in possession of my new V5C. That doesn't seem right because I thought by law a car has to be either taxed or SORN so how can it be in limbo while I am waiting for a V5C ? I asked what about fines etc. for not having it taxed and she said I'd have to deal with them if I get any??


What I have done is to print off the form to declare SORN by post and sent that off saying I am waiting for the V5C which the previous keeper should have notified you about. I also got a certificate of posting.


Any views on this ? I am sure in the past I have been able to declare SORN online immediately with just the new keeper slip; have things changed?

Marvel1

Doesn't seem to have changed https://sorn.service.gov.uk as there is the option of new keeper supplement

Are you sure the photocopy new keeper supplement is the current one? I would prefer the original copy than a photocopy especially if just bought it as there is no need for a photocopy.

forgotmyname

Do you have the document reference for the old keeper? Use that to check the tax value online. If that works you know the V5C is current and correct.

Joe_Horner

Document ref for the new keeper supplement is the same as the one on the V5c it came off, just with an extra character added at the start. So go to the "check tax" site and try using that ref (without the first digit) to list the tax band.

If it coes back as invalid reference then you may have problem, or they may have got around to notifying the change of keeper in the mean time.

As for the "no SORN until..." it's likely to be an extension of the problem of them not allowing two changes of status (taxed to sorn or sorn to taxed) within 5 days of each other.

We've just been through similar with the "new" Daewoo. It had no MOT, and had been SORN since about Aug last year.

We bought it, did the ownership change (the old keeper was moving so I offered to take the logbook and do the lot online), insured it, drove it straight to the garage for a pre-booked test and necessary repairs, but couldn't tax it because of lack of MOT and - if we'd SORNED it - couldn't have taxed it once it was ready because of their bloody stupid 5 day rule.

New V5 came through within 4 days (notified Monday, arrived Thursday) so taxed it as soon as the MOT was done - including the really annoying "extra" month for most of July when we didn't even own it, but such is life!.

If they try to penalise us for the time in between then I'm quite happy to see them in court if needed seeing as it's THEIR badly designed system that made anything else impossible.

EdGasketTheSecond

Thanks Joe Horner, I'll try checking the tax bands this evening as I dont have the doc ref with me right now. The car is showing as taxed for a year so someone will be keen to get that tax refund I would imagine. My guess is that the person who sold it to me hasn't bothered to get the V5 in his name yet and so copied the new keeper supplement because he said he needs to send the whole lot back to DVLA. Might be 'bull' but I can't see what he'd gain by not transferring registered keeper apart from liability to fines and no tax refund; hence I wasn't too concerned that the new keeper supplement was a photocopy. It was only a cheap car so can't see any scam here.

EdGasketTheSecond

I tried the check tax site and check bands; it says the Doc Ref. does not match the vehicle. So it seems the Document Reference is invalid on this 'photo copy'.



I tried to ask DVLA who was the current keeper and they wouldn't tell me; data protection. So I can't establish what the position is or if the guy that sold it me bothered to register it or not. It is still showing as taxed; does that roll on anyway until the end of the month even if a refund is claimed part way through?



Not much else I can do but wait and see if a V5C turns up within 4 weeks and if not apply for another one and see what happens.

Joe_Horner

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

I tried the check tax site and check bands; it says the Doc Ref. does not match the vehicle. So it seems the Document Reference is invalid on this 'photo copy'.



I tried to ask DVLA who was the current keeper and they wouldn't tell me; data protection. So I can't establish what the position is or if the guy that sold it me bothered to register it or not. It is still showing as taxed; does that roll on anyway until the end of the month even if a refund is claimed part way through?



Not much else I can do but wait and see if a V5C turns up within 4 weeks and if not apply for another one and see what happens.

When you tried the tax check, did you remember to leave off the first digit of the number on the supplement? It won't let you check using the full "new keeper" reference for some reason even though that would be an entirely logical thing to be doing! This is DVLA we're dealing with, of course!

EdGasketTheSecond

Yes I left off the first digit. I can't think of any reason why the seller wouldn't want to transfer being registered keeper as soon as possible. He told me he had to send the whole lot off to DVLA and pay £25 so I'm not really sure what's going on. I should have been more vigilant I guess but also didn't think there was any reason why what he was saying wasn't true. Just not sure where this photo-copy came from; maybe a previous, expired V5C; it looks like the original was genuine. DVLA are no help as they won't confirm who they think the registered keeper is. I think I'd be more concerned if it wasn't taxed as someone will be wanting their tax refund and will want the ownership sorted out to get that refund.