SORN my car overnight to get an extra month of tax?

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone - my car tax is due on the 31st, and as I understand it, if I buy a full year, the tax will run until the end of whatever month it's paid in. So this means if I pay on the 31st, I will get until the 31st July 2023. But, can I instead SORN my car overnight and pay on the morning of the 1st August, to get until the 31st August 2023 instead?

In the extreme case could I SORN it for two minutes starting at 23:59 on the 31st, and pay my tax at 00:01 on the 1st to bring it back, getting month of August next year for free? 

EssexExile

If your car is taxed to the end of the month, then your new tax will follow on, they won't charge you twice for the same month.

[Deleted User]

Yep, not thinking about paying twice - my plan is, if I delay the payment until the 1st August by declaring the car off the road overnight, then will my new year of tax run until the 31st August next year? No harm in just trying it I guess.

Herzlos

You pay for any partial months, so it'll work out the same. You've already paid for July 2022, and the next years payment will cover from August 2022 to July 2023.

facade

george7378 said:

Yep, not thinking about paying twice - my plan is, if I delay the payment until the 1st August by declaring the car off the road overnight, then will my new year of tax run until the 31st August next year? No harm in just trying it I guess.

No, as that would be 13 months, count them, 12 months is August,September........June,July.

[Deleted User]

Hmm, I think it will work - the point here is that a full year of tax always runs to the end of whatever month you buy it in. So, in my example, if I tax it on the 31st July 22, I'll get until the 31st July 23, but if I tax it on the 1st August 22 (i.e. just one day later), I'll get it until the 31st August 23. So yes, I would effectively get 13 months for the price of 12.

I'd just have to SORN my car (declare it as untaxed and off the road) on the night of the 31st, and then in the morning, I pay my tax to put it back on the road - freshly taxed until the 31st August.

molerat

I am afraid you are way off base with your thinking.

the point here is that a full year of tax always runs to the end of whatever month you buy it in

No it doesn't, it runs to the end of the previous month.

The new tax will only run to the 31st July.  Tax bought any time in August will expire 12 months from 1st August. It only runs for UP TO 12 months, not 13.

The only way to not lose out is if buying a car today you SORN it straight away and tax it 1st August as if you tax it straight away it will expire 30th June.

Not sure if it is still the case but dealers used to be able to tax brand new cars for 12 months + 1, 2 or 3 weeks.

[Deleted User]

Oh right, didn't realise that! I get it now, thanks.