I'm fully aware that it is the owner's responsibility; however despite it being my responsibility they still send me a reminder for the vehicle tax, so why not do the same for the insurance if your intention is to keep vehicles from being uninsured, rather that take the money?
Insurance companies usually send you a reminder before the expiry date, because they hope to receive another premium. If you ignore the reminder, well - no insurance.
I forgot to tax my new SS. I thought I’d taxed it last September for 12 months. Last night my wife pointed out that the tax reminder was on the fridge, it ran out at the end of Feb. I must have put it on the fridge in Feb and totally forgot. Taxed it last night.
If it’s taxed it must be insured, no matter it is off the road and zero tax historic class. £50 Now SORN
I would have thought that any "offence" should be for not having a SORN, rather than insurance. Does the DVLA have any jurisdiction regarding vehicle insurance? if a vehicle is not insured, but is being used on the public roads, then this is a criminal matter and for the Police to take action as appropriate, not the DVLA. I have fallen foul of forgetting to SORN a bike in the past, but have never been fined for lack of insurance. Indeed, I have an old Moto Guzzi in my shed - been there for the past decade - not SORNed. Perhaps I should be worried....
An untaxed vehicle must be SORNd. That is one offence. A taxed vehicle must be insured. That is another offence. if you fail to renew insurance on a taxed vehicle, you must SORN it.
Doesn't change the premise that this is a BS law, set up by over zealous tax collectors, fining people where oftentimes no crime was comitted...
I was just looking at the historic vehicles mot/tax government web site and I quote: "You can apply to stop paying for vehicle tax from 1 April 2025 if your vehicle was built before 1 January 1985. You must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay." I've entered into a little bit of old duffer confusion here as to exactly what that last sentence means. I'm assuming they are saying you will only need to tax it the one (first) time without paying rather than you need to tax it every year without paying?
You need to tax it every year as normal, you just don't need to pay the fee Either declare SORN, or tax it, on an historic vehicle, both are free, but, you must have one or the other
Yes - was about to say the same. What's puzzled me is that three months after SORNing my bike on the basis of this discussion, it's still showing as untaxed, not SORNed. Guess I'll be holding onto the email confirming its SORNed status!
No. You must tax it every year. I get postal reminders that the tax is due (You may have to tick a box to receive these). I then go online and tax it. Takes two minutes and is free. It is only the SORN that lasts indefinitely once you have SORNed it. Tax (even when historic and £0) must be done annually. Hope that helps
This is correct. SORN lasts indefinately once done, and there is no insurance requirement until the vehicle is next put back on the road, at which point taxation is necessary, even if free. But it's still a bugger that there is the possibility of a fine regarding lack of insurance should the bike not be being used...
Thanks guys... I must admit when writing the post I was initially going to say, why would you still have to tax it when you don't have to pay? But then thought, well they wouldn't be so stupid to ask you to do that would they...
