SORN while parked on road

Android07

My sibling has moved abroad for work and has decided to cancel his car insurance. He has also applied for a SORN. The car is now parked on the road. I have convinced him that the car might get towed away or clamped, but he does not want to renew his insurance.

I also do not have a driveway to reposition the car. What options do I have and what problems may he face?

Dazed_and_C0nfused

You are correct.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dvla-busts-9-myths-around-sorn-statutory-off-road-notification

NorfolkCanary

A car on a publicly accessible road will need the usual VED, MoT & insurance, min. 3rd party.

Depending on area DVLA, police or council could arrange a tow.

Would your relation be ok if the car is stolen or suffers fire damage, given there's no potential claim available?

HampshireH

Android07 said:

My sibling has moved abroad for work and has decided to cancel his car insurance. He has also applied for a SORN. The car is now parked on the road. I have convinced him that the car might get towed away or clamped, but he does not want to renew his insurance.

I also do not have a driveway to reposition the car. What options do I have and what problems may he face?

You have no options it's not your car. You gave correct advice what will be will be.

You could give further advice such as point them in the direction of your local council or housing association who rent garages.

Personally I would wash my hands of it. It's not your issue what happens to the car 

prowla

Statutory Off Road Notification - the clue is in the name!

Emmia

If he's moved abroad, and doesn't need the car, why doesn't he just sell it? To We Buy Any Car etc.

Cars don't do well if just left sitting on the road/driveway not being driven for months at a time.

Car_54

NorfolkCanary said:

A car on a publicly accessible road will need the usual VED, MoT & insurance, min. 3rd party.

Not strictly true. VED is only needed if the road is "maintained at public expense".

Herzlos

Emmia said:

If he's moved abroad, and doesn't need the car, why doesn't he just sell it? To We Buy Any Car etc.

Cars don't do well if just left sitting on the road/driveway not being driven for months at a time.

Exactly. The value is going to drop the longer it's been sat unused, and there's the added liability of storage/tax/whatever. Unless we're talking about them going abroad for a few months it's almost certainly better to sell it and buy something else on return than leaving it uninsured on a road.

facade

It isn't your problem now.

What will happen if it is on a road is the DVLA agents will eventually cruise past and get a ping for no tax. They jump out of their van dancing with glee, and clamp the car and put a sticker on the window.

The keeper then has a few days to pay the tax, and the removal fee for the clamp (A fine for no tax/invitation to pay back tax comes later)

If there is no MOT, and the car can't be taxed, there is a surety to pay that is refunded when the tax is paid (within 14 days IIRC).

If no-one sorts it out, the vehicle will be impounded, and can't be driven from the pound without insurance. There is a massive impound fee.

After a few days the car will be crushed (unofficially broken for parts and the rest scrapped).

I don't think that the fine for no tax goes away when the car is crushed, but I'm not sure about clamping & impound fees, I think they are cancelled, but this is dot Gov so they might be prepared to spend £1000 of tax payer money for every £1 they can recover through the courts.

bluelad1927

You could always report it to prove your point 😀

I wouldn't worry about it yourself
You won't legally be able to move it as its uninsured so there not much you can do
 

Android07

I have now taxed the car from my pocket.

I was also thinking of selling the car on his behalf. Funny thing is His 2010 car cost him £1500 when he bought it five years ago. The car now sells for 4 grand! I am going to sell it, give him £1500 and pocket the rest of the money.

Wait. Is insurance still required even if the car is stationary?