To SORN, or not to SORN, that be the question

[rocco1504]

Hi folks

Not been around for a while, and I did check to see if there were any other posts about this, but just wanted to ask a bit of advice/ general opinion, Please, on matters of SORN.

I recently bought a '76 Chevette that I'm going to get roadworthy, but I thought I'd better declare it SORN, but my problem is my other car, the Scirocco GTX, I've had it sitting outside my garage on a private drive for about 18 months to 2 years now, and haven't declared it off road, and in the past I've just taxed it when I put it back on the road.

It's not been used at all and just sat there looking sorry for itself, collecting dirt and "Is this for Sale ?" notes.

My neighbors can prove that it hasn't been anywhere, as they keep bitching about it getting in the way, and would I be shooting myself in the foot if I declared it now ?.

 

Any advice would be of help

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

i think you just have to pay an 80 quid fine, and that's it. Happened to me with my 728 when I left the country 2 years ago...was in Bradford, stuck it on e-bay, somebody from London won the auction without even looking at it, and then failed to turn up (how surprising is that!)...so the car sat on the drive for months until the owner of the house came back to England and had it towed away. DVLA sent me a few notifications that I owe them the 80 pounds, and when I didn't pay it (because I was away while my post was collecting dust in a friend's cupboard) they sold the debt to a chavvy debt-collection agency who I finally paid 2 years after the "offense" (which probably means I can never hope to even get a new debit, never mind credit, card ever again- good job I've kept my UK bank accounts then).

[rocco1504]

Thing is, I've not had any notifications, other than when the reminder when tax ran out, and that was god knows how long ago, so it's not like I'm being chased or anything,

I suppose the best thing to do is whack in a SORN declaration, and see what happens from there, if they question it, then they do, but in the past when I've taxed it after a long period off the road,

They've never said anything about the time I've had it off road, probably depends on how they feel about it at the time, although I suppose £80.00 isn't as bad as it could be.

Thanks for the info

[dollywobbler]

They won't chase you. Even when a SORN expires after 12 months. "Do nothing then fine" seems to be their motto.

[nigel bickle]

I haz potential solution. Youse have pm.

[Guest]

Bear in mind that if the DVLA do send it to some dozy collection agency, they haven't taken it to County Court and have no means of enforcing it. Just means more letters to put in the bin and eventually you might have to ignore someone at the door (who has no powers).

[worldofceri]

First check here that your Scirocco is indeed listed as unlicensed and that you haven't been declaring SORN in your sleep or summert.

 

If it is unlicensed, when you next try to tax it or declare SORN they will send you a letter demanding the 'arrears of duty' and a fine. When this happened to me in 2006 the fine was £40 rising to £80 if I didn't pay within four weeks.

 

I wrote them the following letter which you are welcome to copy:

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I refer to your letter dated 4 November, re: 'failure to relicense vehicle'.

 

In August 2006 I claimed a refund of the road tax using form V33. I clearly recall signing the box to declare SORN at the same time. Please check your records to confirm that this is the case.

 

It is my view that I have followed the correct procedures and should not be required to pay any penalty.

 

I look forward to hearing from you.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

WorldOfCeri.

 

They wrote to me a fortnight later to say 'on this occasion no further action will be taken'.

 

Thing is, I couldn't actually remember whether I did sign the SORN box or not, so either:

 

a. I did, and when they checked their records they realised they were in the wrong, or,

 

b. They didn't have any evidence to dispute what I'd said and so had to drop it.

 

Either way, might be worth a shot if Mr. Bickle's solution doesn't work out.