What Do I Have To Do To Take My Car Off The Road Officially?

[chanel5]

Hi, I have searched previous posts about this topic, and have gained a little information, but nothing answers exactly what I need to know, so I am hoping that someone would be kind enough to help with some advice.
I am about to see a specialist and am fairly certain that I will be officially diagnosed with a condition which will affect my ability to get insurance to drive for at least a year, so my car will be off the road, and will be kept in my garage. A couple of weeks ago I taxed and insured the car for one year (stupid, I know, but I was in denial about the reality of my condition). Can anyone tell me please if I can get any kind of rebate on the tax and insurance I have paid? Also, would I need to keep the car insured in case it suffers damage while in the garage, eg a fire?
Thank you in advance to anyone who can offer some advice on this.

[Zacs-Master]

All the info you need here re tax
https://www.gov.uk/register-sorn-statutory-off-road-notification
I would talk to your insurance co about cover.

[ummmm]

Yes, you can get a tax rebate when you have sorn it. Not sure about insurance. We pay our insurance annually and I always checked if we could get a rebate if the car had to be sorn. The answer was always yes.

[RATTER15]

There you go:

https://www.gov.uk/register-sorn-statutory-off-road-notification

[shoota]

You can get a refund on the tax from the start of next month if you send the tax disc back to the address on the rear of it. You will need to get it to them before the end of this month as they only refund complete months.
You will need to declare your car as being off the road at the same time (SORN - statutory off road notice)
You insurance company will refund your insurance costs less the time elapsed and an admin fee and will almost certainly give you reduced fire and theft cover. If they don't a good broker will be able to find someone who will.
Don't forget to run the car for 20 mins or so every once in a while to keep it turning over so it would be a good idea to put a few gallons of fuel in it.

[shoota]

One further thought - don't forget to ask your insurance company for a certificate of no claims bonus so you can prove your NCB when you want to re-insure.

[chanel5]

Thank you to everyone for your fast and informative replies. That is so helpful. Very much appreciated.

[TWR]

Apart from what has been advised Chane15, make sure you have the radio Code, get someone to remove the battery leads ( Connecting wires) get the car Jacked up and put on Stands otherwise your tyres will crack, you will then end up having to byer new. for a car that will be off road, garaged for 1 year, when the car is up and on stands, release the handbrake, leave in neutral, drop the oil /water, these may sound silly but after standing for 1 year the car's oil will lose it's strenght, the coolant "COULD" Corrode your Radiator, & I would also drain the brake fluid, as this would also lose is strenght, other might think different, but that is the way I would go about this.

[Hopkirk]

Ask the insurance company about postponing the insurance until you need it, rather than cancelling and being hit with a ridiculously high admin charge.

They might say no, but it's worth asking.

[=rizla=]

I'd be tempted to keep it legally on the road and then get a friend to drive it for you every month, things rust/seize when left.

If you do decide to sorn it then get it started every month or so, i'd charge the battery every month as well.

So far as removing the oil/water i'd advise against this as they both have anti rusting properties, the water/antifreeze can and will separate so as i've said its worth running the car every month or so. Oil does go 'off' so once you're back fit and well it'd be worth getting that changed but DONT leave the car with no oil in it for the year.

[chanel5]

thank you, everyone, I am seeing the insurance people this week, and a friend has agreed to take the car for a drive around her very large driveway and garden. That way, it will get driven for a mile or so from time to time, to keep it lubricated. Cheers.