Hi Guys

My Car Tax for my XJS runs out at the end of August, in which case I'm planning to lay her up for the Winter (It's that time already!)

And give my full attention to another XJS.

In the UK that means declaring a SORN Statutory Off Road Notice, or you get fined.

Unless of course you want to renew your Car Tax (which I don't)

When I did this last year (which you can do on the phone)

It said that my SORN would begin at the end of August.

So I though that I would do it now, in case it got forgotten.

UK Viewers will be aware that they have changed the rules a little bit!

Which at times can be very Confusing.

So when I rung up to declare a SORN, they said that my SORN had now been accepted.

What they didn't say however, was what they said last year.

In respect of my SORN Starting at the End of August.

Before I went and declared the SORN my Car was Taxed until the end of August.

And as I still want to use her till then.

Is She Still Taxed Now?

Or does the SORN I declared now negate that?

 

Hi Orangeblossom,


Yes the new rules are a bit of a pain when you buy and sell a car.


In your case suggest you try the following website:


https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/


Enter your reg number and see what it comes up with.


Regards,


LeeP

 

Hi Lee

According to that Web Site my Car is now on a SORN

So it looks like it Cancels whatever Tax I had left, even though they won't be sending a refund.

If that's true then I've Shot myself in the foot for inadvertently Cancelling the Tax that I had left!

How on earth can they do that?

 

I'm sorry to hear that Orangeblossom. It just seems to be a money grabbing exercise by UK Gov. I sold my MBG and bought my XJS in the same month and lost a months tax on each. Multiply that by the number of car deals each year!


All I can suggest is you phone the DVLA help line and plead your case. Maybe they will reverse the sworn if you explain the situation.


Good luck,


LeeP

 

+1 give them a call and see what they say.

 

Hi Lee @ Norri

I just don't get it.

They sent me a V11

Which tells me my Tax runs out on August 31st 2015

Then I can either:

(1) Renew the Tax for 6 Months

(2) Renew the Tax for 12 Months

(3) SORN the Vehicle

What the don't tell you is WHEN you need to SORN the Vehicle

Do you do it before the Tax runs out, on the Understanding that the SORN does NOT come into force UNTIL the Tax has run out.

Or are you supposed to do the SORN When the TAX has run out.

The Problem being these ANPR Cameras can't work that out either and if their records say your Car is on a SORN then you would get a fine, or if you do a SORN after the TAX has run out and miss it by ONE DAY.

You would still get a Fine.

They just don't tell you when the Cut off date is, so it is a bit of a Catch 22 Situation.

 

Next option go to the local police station and tell them your confused and see what they have to say.

 

I might just pass on that one. LOL

 

Why? You don't need to take the car if you don't want to.

 

I'll Phone the DVLA

 

OB,

There is some sense behind this. It's the basis of the principle of continuous insurance which came in a few years ago. This means that you have to have insurance if your car is taxed, even if it's off the road and not used. This was to combat uninsured drivers. So all cars have to be taxed and insured, or else SORN'd.

So, if your insurance expires but your car is still taxed and you don't use it, they can (and will!) prosecute you for no insurance. This nearly happened to me right at the beginning of the new regulations. Fortunately they wrote to me because of the recent change in legislation and warned me. I then immediately cancelled my tax and SORN'd the car.

So when you "SORN" a car, it is to advise them that it is off the road NOW, not at some future date. And because tax is only refundable if there are full months left, if you SORN a car in the middle of the last month (maybe because your insurance has expired), there is no refund.

Sadly, I don't think you have any chance whatsoever of appealing this to the DVLA.

Hope that helps.

Paul

 

Hi Paul

Thanks

I never knew any of that, except you could be wrong about the last bit, in as much at it applies in 'My Situation'

My Car is Taxed until the End of August and I can re-new it for 6 Months or 12 Months at the End of August (or a few days before)

Or I can SORN it when my Car Tax Expires but the one thing that it doesn't say is how far in Advance you can SORN it BEFORE your Car TAX expires and still make use of the Tax that you have left.

Although it seems that you can do so when they send you the V11.

So I phoned up the DVLA told them what I had done and told them my Car was Showing up on their Web Site, as being on a SORN.

They were ever so nice and really helpful

Where after Checking my details, said I'd done everything right!

And that I was Still Taxed to the End of August.

But guess what!

I was reading an Article where:

There is 'Talk' that it could come about that if you have a 'Ride on Lawnmower' and I've got Three of those.

Then you 'May' have to take out Insurance, even if you use it in your own Garden!

Depending on a possible EU directive.

How Bonkers Is That!

 

OB,

That's really good that common sense has prevailed! And quite unusual with the DVLA! Well done! Now make sure you enjoy the next 10 days whether rain or sunshine!

Paul

 

Common sense did not prevail, I unwittingly followed the Rules and got it right.

 

Great news. I hope Summer returns for you,
LeeP

 

Cheers Lee

And not before time either, not the best of Summers that I've ever known.

 

Don't forget that you can also tax it monthly by direct debit but that will also cost you a bit more.

 

Cheers Steve,

Knowing my luck the Sun will Shine the Day the Tax Runs out, so that might be an option.

 

Although I didn't request it.

Today I got Confirmation from the DVLA that my Jag is still Taxed, until the end of August.

So it looks like as long as you SORN it, when they send you the V11 then you don't Cancel the TAX that you already paid for.

 

I think that you can avoid the whole loss of money rip-off by buying and taxing a car on the first of the month.