News1 min ago
Car Insurance
13 Answers
My woman's father has a terminal illness and recently the insurance company was written to say the insurance needs renewing soon. I suggested to her that they cancel the renewal since the car is just in the garage and will never be driven again by her father. Should the need arise to drive the car to a seller later they could apply for short term cover.
I have just been informed that the insurance company says it is illegal to have the car uninsured regardless. This clearly defies any common sense as it implies a vehicle can be rusting away in the garage untouched but still has to be insured. But past experience means I realise that any commonality between the law and common sense is purely coincidental.
The question I was asked, and which I'm hoping someone here can answer is, is the claim that an unused car now has to be insured even when unused and off the road, true or not ?
I have just been informed that the insurance company says it is illegal to have the car uninsured regardless. This clearly defies any common sense as it implies a vehicle can be rusting away in the garage untouched but still has to be insured. But past experience means I realise that any commonality between the law and common sense is purely coincidental.
The question I was asked, and which I'm hoping someone here can answer is, is the claim that an unused car now has to be insured even when unused and off the road, true or not ?
Answers
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Make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)
Not what you're looking for? ↓
You can make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) online if you are registered as the vehicle’s keeper. You’ll need the reference number on your V5C registration certificate, V11 or V85/1 reminder form.
You must apply by post if you’re recently registered as the keeper or not yet registered.
It’s an offence to keep a motor vehicle without insurance unless you’ve surrendered your tax disc to make a SORN. You can apply by post for a tax disc refund and make a SORN at the same time using form V14.
What you need to know
Start now
on the vehicle online service
Before you startOther ways to apply
When you need to make a SORN
You don’t have to buy a tax disc if you don’t use or keep your vehicle on a public road (eg you keep it in a garage, on a drive or on private land). You must make a SORN instead.
Your vehicle must be in and remain in Great Britain to make a SORN.
If you buy a vehicle that already has a SORN from its previous keeper, the SORN will finish as soon as you buy the vehicle. You will need to make a new SORN.
You can also check a vehicle’s SORN status and other details online.
Penalties
If you don’t make a SORN when you have to you’ll automatically be fined £80, will need to get a new tax disc and must pay any tax arrears. You could also get a County Court Judgement against you, be fined a minimum of £1,000 and be liable to prosecution.
If you’re a motor trader
Motor traders don’t need to make a SORN on a vehicle if all the following apply:
it’s only temporarily in your possession (until you sell it)
it’s being kept off the road (except to and from a licensed station for a pre-arranged MOT, vehicle identity check, or weight or emissions test)
the registered keeper has notified DVLA that the vehicle has been sold or transferred to the motor trader
You’re a motor trader for SORN purposes if you’re a:
motor dealer
motor auctioneer
vehicle dismantler
vehicle insurer looking after a vehicle while a claim is being settled
finance company licensed to temporarily hold a vehicle following an order for repossession
Putting the vehicle back on the road
You’ll need to get a tax disc if you want to use the vehicle again on the road.
Not what you're looking for? ↓
You can make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) online if you are registered as the vehicle’s keeper. You’ll need the reference number on your V5C registration certificate, V11 or V85/1 reminder form.
You must apply by post if you’re recently registered as the keeper or not yet registered.
It’s an offence to keep a motor vehicle without insurance unless you’ve surrendered your tax disc to make a SORN. You can apply by post for a tax disc refund and make a SORN at the same time using form V14.
What you need to know
Start now
on the vehicle online service
Before you startOther ways to apply
When you need to make a SORN
You don’t have to buy a tax disc if you don’t use or keep your vehicle on a public road (eg you keep it in a garage, on a drive or on private land). You must make a SORN instead.
Your vehicle must be in and remain in Great Britain to make a SORN.
If you buy a vehicle that already has a SORN from its previous keeper, the SORN will finish as soon as you buy the vehicle. You will need to make a new SORN.
You can also check a vehicle’s SORN status and other details online.
Penalties
If you don’t make a SORN when you have to you’ll automatically be fined £80, will need to get a new tax disc and must pay any tax arrears. You could also get a County Court Judgement against you, be fined a minimum of £1,000 and be liable to prosecution.
If you’re a motor trader
Motor traders don’t need to make a SORN on a vehicle if all the following apply:
it’s only temporarily in your possession (until you sell it)
it’s being kept off the road (except to and from a licensed station for a pre-arranged MOT, vehicle identity check, or weight or emissions test)
the registered keeper has notified DVLA that the vehicle has been sold or transferred to the motor trader
You’re a motor trader for SORN purposes if you’re a:
motor dealer
motor auctioneer
vehicle dismantler
vehicle insurer looking after a vehicle while a claim is being settled
finance company licensed to temporarily hold a vehicle following an order for repossession
Putting the vehicle back on the road
You’ll need to get a tax disc if you want to use the vehicle again on the road.
That is true. Unless the car has a Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN) it must be insured.
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The only way to avoid car insurance
If you don't use your car and don't keep it on a public road, you don't actually need to tax or insure it. But to avoid these costs and comply with the law, you'll need to apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
This is vital, as it declares your car's status to the authorities. Even if your car is permanently 'off-road', sitting in your garage or on your driveway, you'll need to pay for tax and car insurance or risk a fine and prosecution - unless you've got your SORN.
Save time and money on your car insurance
The importance of SORN
As the owner, if a vehicle isn't covered by a car insurance policy and hasn't been declared off the road by a SORN notification, you'll be liable to a fine thanks to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) regulations. These make it a legal requirement for registered vehicle owners to have insurance cover at all times.
Don't think that because you're not driving the car you won't be caught, as there are means of identifying cars that are uninsured by comparing DVLA vehicle records against those held on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). So make sure you're not at inadvertently at risk of breaking the rules. It could cost you dear.
For more information on whether or not you are legally compliant, check out our car insurance check page.
What happens if I don't declare SORN?
You'll be sent an Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL). This will tell you that the vehicle isn't insured and that you'll face a fine unless you take action by arranging car insurance. You'd also need to make sure the car is taxed and pay any tax arrears.
There is a fixed penalty notice of £100, and your car could even be clamped, seized and even disposed of; and there is the added risk of possible prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.
How do declare SORN?
Contact the DVLA as a first step. You'll need the reference number on your V5C registration certificate, V11 or V85/1 reminder form. It's simple, and you can apply over the phone or online.
Once your application has been accepted, you'll receive a letter from the DVLA within four weeks. If you don't get this, give them a call to make sure it's been processed.
SORNs aren't permanent, so when you receive the SORN document, make a note of its expiry date so you don't forget to renew it. If you find you're due to be away when it expires, you can send a V890 form to the DVLA up to two months in advance, and explain the situat
If you don't use your car and don't keep it on a public road, you don't actually need to tax or insure it. But to avoid these costs and comply with the law, you'll need to apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
This is vital, as it declares your car's status to the authorities. Even if your car is permanently 'off-road', sitting in your garage or on your driveway, you'll need to pay for tax and car insurance or risk a fine and prosecution - unless you've got your SORN.
Save time and money on your car insurance
The importance of SORN
As the owner, if a vehicle isn't covered by a car insurance policy and hasn't been declared off the road by a SORN notification, you'll be liable to a fine thanks to the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) regulations. These make it a legal requirement for registered vehicle owners to have insurance cover at all times.
Don't think that because you're not driving the car you won't be caught, as there are means of identifying cars that are uninsured by comparing DVLA vehicle records against those held on the Motor Insurance Database (MID). So make sure you're not at inadvertently at risk of breaking the rules. It could cost you dear.
For more information on whether or not you are legally compliant, check out our car insurance check page.
What happens if I don't declare SORN?
You'll be sent an Insurance Advisory Letter (IAL). This will tell you that the vehicle isn't insured and that you'll face a fine unless you take action by arranging car insurance. You'd also need to make sure the car is taxed and pay any tax arrears.
There is a fixed penalty notice of £100, and your car could even be clamped, seized and even disposed of; and there is the added risk of possible prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.
How do declare SORN?
Contact the DVLA as a first step. You'll need the reference number on your V5C registration certificate, V11 or V85/1 reminder form. It's simple, and you can apply over the phone or online.
Once your application has been accepted, you'll receive a letter from the DVLA within four weeks. If you don't get this, give them a call to make sure it's been processed.
SORNs aren't permanent, so when you receive the SORN document, make a note of its expiry date so you don't forget to renew it. If you find you're due to be away when it expires, you can send a V890 form to the DVLA up to two months in advance, and explain the situat
Send the tax disc back to claim the refund.
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If you tick the relevant box on the form, this acts as a SORN declaration.
https:/
If you tick the relevant box on the form, this acts as a SORN declaration.
Thanks for all the replies. I did mention SORN but was informed that this was not the issue and it had to be taxed anyway.
I shall be charitable and assume there was a misunderstanding during the discussion between my woman and the insurers, as the alternative would be that the insurers were immorally trying to get business when they knew full well that the vehicle could be declared off the road: and that simply couldn't be the case.
Thanks again to all who replied. I shall particularly pass on the tax disk refund method of getting SORN declared.
I shall be charitable and assume there was a misunderstanding during the discussion between my woman and the insurers, as the alternative would be that the insurers were immorally trying to get business when they knew full well that the vehicle could be declared off the road: and that simply couldn't be the case.
Thanks again to all who replied. I shall particularly pass on the tax disk refund method of getting SORN declared.
1 to 13 of 13
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