Taking a car off the road

[luvlylady]

I am in Uni and don't think I will be able to afford to run my car. I don't want to sell it, just put if off the road. I know I will have to SORN it, but can I keep the car (even though I am not driving it) in a public parking bay close to my home? It will be covered with a proper car cover etc. I don't have a garage or any private land to park it for the time I am away. Will the DVLA send me a SORN disc to display on the car or what? Also the car will not be insured as I won't be driving it.

[shero101]

I have a car that is SORN and kept off the road in a private garage. You do not get any disc from the DVLA and you have to renew the SORN each year (you get no reminder for this). It is a problem though for you if it is to be kept parked on a public parking area because by definition it is not 'off the road'. It would therefore need to kept taxed/Mot'd/insured. If you wish to keep the car and 'off road' it then see if any family or friends can find room on their property for you. There are problems associated with storing a car for a long period of time, there is the depreciation of the vehicle to consider and also cars are meant be used regularly and if left for long periods the brakes can rust up and without the engine being turned over from time to time to get a flow of oil to keep it lubricated there could be probems in the future. I know this is not the answer you're looking for but there are a number of things you have to think through.

[luvlylady]

I am struggling to find anywhere to keep the car, that is the problem. If I have to rent a garage, I might as well keep it on the road for what it will cost to rent. Thanks for your answer shero101. It has helped

[kpp62]

Hi luvlylady,
what uni are you at ?

[luvlylady]

Swansea.

[JudgeJ]

Oh well never mind.

[Buenchico]

As Shero101 has indicated, a Statutory Off Road Notification requires exactly what it says, i.e. that your car is 'off road'. DVLA don't issue anything to replace the tax disk because it shouldn't need one when it's on private land. (Incidentally, it's actually illegal to use a car cover on a vehicle standing on the public highway because the tax disk is no longer visible. The law requires that it must be 'displayed').

Whether or not your car would need to be insured while parked on the public highway is also open to question. Unless there's a Crown Court (or higher court) precedent, it would come down to whether a particular magistrates' court regarded the vehicle as being 'used'. It's possible that you might still require insurance. See here:
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Motoring/Questi on300657.html

Unfortunately, unless you can find some private land where you can keep your car, you may be forced to sell it.

Chris

[luvlylady]

Buenchico
Where could I find out for definite whether I need insurance to keep it on the road. I could afford to tax it, but my insurance is a huge amount (�800), but then again I would need to produce an insurance document to tax it wouldn't I? I am between a rock and a hard place!! I have a friend who lives in a quiet cul de sac and she said I can park there. But surely that is still public road?

[shero101]

luvlylady, we can only give best unoffical advice. You may want to phone the DVLA directly. They are helpful. I have to say I would be very nervous about leaving a car parked for a long time even in a quiet area as it may eventually get the wrong type of attention. If you are determined to do this then insurance is advisable (maybe compulsory) but you can get third party cover only which may be cheaper (fire and theft would also be advisable). Buenchico makes a good point that the car must not be covered as the tax disc does indeed need to be visible.

[luvlylady]

Thanks guys...you have helped. Don't want to do anything illegal, so it looks like am going to have to sell it. Shame cos I love my car. Shank's pony from now on.........Thanks again

:o)