SORN cars and Tax

[tealeaves]

Does a vehicle that has been declared off the road (SORN) which is being kept outside the property on a public road still need to display an up-to-date car tax disc?

[Mamyalynne]

SORN means 'off road' so yes.

[ChuckFickens]

If it's kept on a public road it needs to be taxed and insured.

[boxtops]

I agree with 2sp - you have to have one or the other. If it's SORN, that's what it says - "off Road".

[tealeaves]

I probably should've added more details...

Neighbour dispute. We don't have driveways and must park the cars in the street. Neighbour has declared car SORN pending being sold and has allowed the tax to elapse. The car is in our way and making parking outside our property difficult. Neighbour is claiming cars that are SORN do not need taxing whether they are on private property or a public road. I don't think this is the case but wanted to be clear before reporting it.

[ChuckFickens]

Ask them what they think SORN stands for, it's "Statutory Off-Road Notification"

There is a clue in the name as they say.

[ABerrant]

SORN or Tax - it's one or the other, you can't have both.

SORN must be kept of the public highway.
Any car on the public highway must be taxed (unless exempt e.g. historic vehicle)

[ChuckFickens]

"Any car on the public highway must be taxed (unless exempt e.g. historic vehicle)"

Technically they need to be taxed too, it's just the tax is zero rated.

[tealeaves]

Indeed - although surely guidelines exist for those who don't have a private area to park it? To be honest I never queried that as the car hasn't moved for over a month. I just wanted to make sure it definitely still needed taxing, even though it's SORN.

Can I report him for having a SORN car on the actual road as well then? ;)

[ChuckFickens]

"although surely guidelines exist for those who don't have a private area to park it?"

Yes.... the guidelines are to tax it.

[carrust]

Someone told me last week that you had to keep up the insurance on a SORN vehicle, is he right?

[cazzz1975]

yes, SORN cars have to be insured

[tealeaves]

I'm willing to bet it's not insured either, if he doesn't think it needs taxing!

Well thanks for your help, looks like it should be taxed as it is on a public highway, so I don't feel so bad about reporting him now.

[Hopkirk]

No, SORN cars do not need to be insured.

[Hopkirk]

http://www.direct.gov...orinsurance/DG_186696

[ChuckFickens]

Hopkirk is correct.

Although in this case, as the car is on the road it shouldn't be SORN'd so therefore should be insured.

[cazzz1975]

looks like hopkirk is right..

http://www.direct.gov...orinsurance/DG_186696

[Hopkirk]

Chuck makes a good point.

[tealeaves]

Well I won't get involved with the insurance side. But I have reported it as untaxed on the basis of it being on the public highway, even though I know there's nowhere else to keep it...But that's not the point. Sick of seeing it!