Can I Just Leave The Car In The Drive?

[NoseyNose]

I have my deceased partners car in our drive.

It cannot be seen from the road,'

I presume it can sit there till the road tax runs out .I cannot find any road tax documents in my partners papers,so don't know when it does expire.

The same applies to the Motor Insurance.

What happens when the road tax/insurance expires,am I then required to SORN it?

If it was SORN'ed,would that stop me selling it,once the car is part of my late partners estate.

I don't drive.so selling it(eventually) would probably be my best bet?

Over to you guys.

Thanks,Gordon.

[Maydup]

I'm sorry for your loss Nosey.

Check the MOT by entering the reg here. Then you can see what time you have between now and selling it.
 

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status

[ToraToraTora]

If it's not SORNed then it needs insurance, even on the driveway so use SORN it straight away.

[andres]

Contact the DVLA and they will advise you what to do. 

[ToraToraTora]

You can still sell it whilst SORNed, the buyer can tax it before they drive it away.

[elliemay1]

SORN it now and also cancel the insurance, you may then be due a rebate from both

[Maydup]

I meant to say check MOT and Tax via the link. 

[Maydup]

It's the driver who needs insurance not the car, so don't be concerned about that just now. 

[andres]

Did your partner leave a will NN?

[nicebloke1]

Or put the reg on here if you find it difficult to do, and one of us can check it for you. You won't be giving any info out that will put you in harms way, as anyone can check such details with the reg number.

[barry1010]

The insurance is void on the death of the policy holder, so tell the insurance company as soon as possible.  You may want to insure it against theft.

[bednobs]

i just dealt with this for my late dad, as my mum doesnt drive. the car wason the drive and when he died, we called the insurance co who kept the ins going for a month while we arranged sorn.

dont just leave it, its not legal

[NoseyNose]

A big thank you maydup,

I can see from your link this:~

✓ TaxedVehicle Reg******* is Taxed

Tax due: 1 August 2024

 

✓ MOTVehicle Reg ****** has a valid MOT certificate

Expires: 18 July 2024

So this is a starting point.

Where would you go from here?

My late partners brother has the letters of administration,so I presume he can contact Santander Car insurance,and the DVLA, to inform them?

I cannot find out (yet) when Car Insurance Expires,as Santander's Berevement Helpline closes on a Saturday,at 2.pm!

I know his brother is dealing with this(and other car,and estate issues) but I would like to give him some support.

 

He is in Yorkshire,I am in East Sussex.

[NoseyNose]

Andres,no, no will.

Between me,and his brother we hope to get this sorted out.

I always thought my late partner was an organised person.

But now I realise that he was (later on in our relationship) a "brush asider",which has disappointed,and frustrated me.

 

[andres]

Apologies for asking,NN.but I just thought that if your partner had left the car to someone then he/she  could  deal with this problem. 

[New Judge]

"It's the driver who needs insurance not the car, so don't be concerned about that just now." 

That is not correct, Maydup. All vehicles must be insured under a policy which provides the cover required by the Road Traffic Act (basically against Third Party risks). If no such policy is in force, it must be declared off road by way of a SORN (and kept off road).

"You may want to insure it against theft."

But in that event, barry, even it it was not driven and kept off the road, if the policy did not cover Third Party risks, it must  be declared SORN.

[NoseyNose]

Thank You New Judge,

Thats a big help.

I think that Billy's brother should SORN it,as soon as legal matters(the estate etc)are settled,because then he will be the legal owner of the vehicle,and can agree to sell it?

[barry1010]

I assumed it would be declared SORN, NJ.

[New Judge]

"I assumed it would be declared SORN, NJ."

Good point, barry.

"I think that Billy's brother should SORN it,as soon as legal matters(the estate etc)are settled,..."

It should be SORN'd asap, Nosey. As barry points out, the insurance policy becomes void on the death of the policyholder and so the car is now uninsured. The only thing to bear in mind, however, is that any penalties for that offence will be levied against the Registered Keeper, whom I assume was your late partner.

[Tuvok]

Glad to see you back.

I'm sure I speak for the rest of the AB members from your previous thread.

[CrapatCryptics2]

If your partner is anything like me the documents you mention would be saved on their computer. They may not have actually downloaded the actual policy but the main page should be in there somewhere