To SORN or not to SORN!

C

cj_eds

Senior member
 Stirling
Been debating whether to SORN the car at the moment. Last winter I barely used it in 3 months because of the snow etc. End of the month it needs insuring & MOT'ing and before this winter it really needs new tyres if I've any intention of driving it dubious weather (I had a serious sideways moment at the Prudential roundabout as you's left for the Islay run!) so it seems a convenient time to do it...
It's not really a cash issue, but only running it for 9 months out of 12 would be £125 saving on insurance for me, and likewise on ~£260 tax a year that's £65. If the winters going forward are going to be as bad has they have been last year and I use it as little as I did, it'd be daft to turn your nose up at nearly £200.

There's a few people on here that SORN their car over winter, do you find it worthwhile? Is it more hassle than it's worth with the DVLA etc? Will I be looking into the garage in a month's time eager to drive off and thinking it was a mistake?
 
You need to check with the DVLA about SORN as I think you now need to have valid insurance for your car if it SORNED from what I understand, even if its off the road on your own property. Its all in an effort to get the un-insured drivers off the road I believe.

You may get away with it if its locked away in a garage or out of view.

Worth checking out properly to be sure as I could be wrong, last thing you want is a fine or worse. :thumbsup:
 
You're right Yamiuchi - had emailed the insurer to ask about that and it's a 12 month policy regardless of if it's on road or SORN. So it would save £60 on tax and that's it. For a couple of months it's not worth battling the DVLA!
 
cj_eds said:
You're right Yamiuchi - had emailed the insurer to ask about that and it's a 12 month policy regardless of if it's on road or SORN. So it would save £60 on tax and that's it. For a couple of months it's not worth battling the DVLA!
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Sounds like your insurer is tugging your doohdah - No insurance is needed if the car is off road and a valid SORN is in place, most insurers allow a suspension of the policy, but don't forget if you suspend it fully your car is not insured at all.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Motorinsurance/DG_186696
 
Ewazix said:
cj_eds said:
You're right Yamiuchi - had emailed the insurer to ask about that and it's a 12 month policy regardless of if it's on road or SORN. So it would save £60 on tax and that's it. For a couple of months it's not worth battling the DVLA!
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Sounds like your insurer is tugging your doohdah - No insurance is needed if the car is off road and a valid SORN is in place, most insurers allow a suspension of the policy, but don't forget if you suspend it fully your car is not insured at all.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Motorinsurance/DG_186696
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As said above no insurance is needed if iot is SORNed. The change is that if you do not have insurance you have to SORN it.

This is really annoying if as we are trying to sell a car because we want to cancel the insurance but then you have to SORN it and get a rebate of the tax. That then makes it harder to sell without the tax. :x
 
i was thinking of not taxing mine for a few months, but for what i'd save i didn't bother, taxed it yesterday, £265, lat year it was £240, which is well above inflation
 
Taz x said:
i was thinking of not taxing mine for a few months, but for what i'd save i didn't bother, taxed it yesterday, £265, lat year it was £240, which is well above inflation
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:o mine is due next month, didn't realise it has gone up that much :cry:

IMO if it's locked in a garage then I would suspend the insurance and sorn it... However on a driveway if some drunk idiot decides to fire bomb it/ slash the roof.... Then would prefer to be protected.
 
my tax runs out end of this month so mine will be SORN'd, at over £40 per month on tax it's worth it and it's no hassle.
 
Don't forget to run it every couple of weeks in n out of garage to stop the fuel separating, especially if ur using supa unleaded
 
Jembo said:
Don't forget to run it every couple of weeks in n out of garage to stop the fuel separating, especially if ur using supa unleaded
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and free off the brakes, don't leave the hand brake on
 
Mine is SORNED from 1st December. Will see how that lasts, especially now I have new wheelies from Santa...
April is the target...
Still insured, theft, etc is still a risk.
 
My tax runs out on 31/12.I too am debating whether to sorn it for a couple of months. The MOT expires early in Feb so I may park it up with no tax until march when I'll put in back on the road with a good claying and polish.
 
As said, many insurers will allow you to simply suspend your policy for 2-3 months at no cost.....Direct Line certainly does.

But if you are thinking of SORNing, do get a battery conditioner. When I off-roaded mine the year before last, the battery died over a period of a few weeks (it was four years old anyway) but I had to drive it to Swansea after replacing it, to get it taken out of transport mode; a software setting it lapses into with a weak battery and which disables a lot of electricals - only the dealer (or someone with the right software) can reprogramme it.
 
As said, many insurers will allow you to simply suspend your policy for 2-3 months at no cost.....Direct Line certainly does.

But if you are thinking of SORNing, do get a battery conditioner. When I off-roaded mine the year before last, the battery died over a period of a few weeks (it was four years old anyway) but I had to drive it to Swansea after replacing it, to get it taken out of transport mode; a software setting it lapses into with a weak battery and which disables a lot of electricals - only the dealer (or someone with the right software) can reprogramme it.
 
srhutch said:
ryan_bucky said:
you should all man up and drive it even if its raining! :fuelfire:
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I have the pleasure of having a company car for getting wet and covered in salt :wink:
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Ditto !!

Mine will be sorned and tax cashed in from the end of the month, ( will surrender 3 months road tax )
 
No plans to SORN mine this winter - will get used at the week end in all weathers. :driving: Pics were taken on the Blea Tarn fell road at the end of the Langdale valley Cumbria this week end. The old bruiser looking a bit moody in this face shot - she will be spruced up this week as I have a few days leave. :D
DSC01357.jpg
 
AlienZed, Cheers pal, top would have been down - problem was the drizzle - it was still good to be out in some of the uk's best scenery :)
 
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