Buying car /tax has run out

[Norbee]

Hi,
Please can some one help!
I have found a car I want to buy but there is no tax on it.
MOT valid.
If I insure the car instantly can I drive it home would it be still legal?

Thanx very much for your kind help!

[Buenchico]

All vehicles must either have a valid tax disc or be subject to SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). At the moment that the ownership of a 'SORN' vehicle is transferred, the SORN is automatically cancelled and the new owner is obliged to either tax the vehicle or (if it's to remain 'off road') to re-register SORN.

You can't drive the vehicle until you've got a tax disc. For that you require a certificate of insurance (or a cover note). If you insure online, or by phone, you'll have to wait until you've got documentary proof of your insurance cover before you can tax (and drive) the vehicle. If you insure via a local broker, you can get a cover note straight away, which will enable you to tax (and drive) the vehicle on the same day that you purchase it.

Chris

[terambulan]

I sold a sorn car. The new purchaser viewed the car on Friday and arranged for Mot at his home 2hrs drive away. He was stopped on motorway but proved appointment with MOT centre to police and they allowed him to go on. All docs were gathered after mot.

[Norbee]

Thank you for the info!

Do I understand well that if the car just purchased the police is a bit more understanding?

Would the post office tax the car if I do insurance with them at the same moment?

[loonytunes]

Depends if they can let you have the Certificate of insurance or Cover Note straight away. Section 147 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 says that the insurance is of no effect until the Certificte of Insurance has actually been delivered to you.

[Ethel]

Norbee - the police weren't 'more understanding' because the car had just been bought.

It was because it was being driven to a pre-booked MOT, which is lawful. The car was not just untaxed, it was SORN

[rojash]

I bought a car from a dealer who was also a client. The tax was "in the post" but he assured me I'd have no problems. First morning, on the way to the office, I got pulled and was fined for not displaying a tax disk (only a small fine, as I could prove that the car was actually taxed, but still a fine, and a lot of hassle!).

[SeaJayPea]

Why not ask the person you're buying it from to tax it and pay them?

[Norbee]

Thanx again for the valuable infos.

The reason why the car wasn't taxed is that owners insurance
expired and above all owner is banned from driving for 6 months.

Anyway checked the car yesterday and it has got serious problems with engine :o) and rear axle.

[Norbee]

Anyway as we say it would be worth for a prayer in church to think about why police is so busy running after tax discs in stead of running after real criminals...

MOT and insurance is very very important I strongly agree
but a missing tax disc is ridiculous...
In case it is missing why not just showing it at the police station when received.Would cost less for taxpayers!!

[Panic Button]

The police often find that untaxed cars are not insured, or the car or driver are illegal in other ways.

The police therefore are running after real criminals.

Often they are stopped because they show up on number plate recognition cameras, not because the police notice an out of date disc at 70 mph.