sorn puzzle

[KRUSTYMAN]

Hi, I've just helped a freind out by buying his daughters car - she's gone backpacking around the world and is therefore out of touch at the moment. My problem is this - I know that she has declared the car off the road and there is a letter from the DVLA confirming this but the car still has a tax disk which runs to January '09. Surely this is still taxed to drive on the road, I was under the assumption that to claim back any road tax after declaring the car off the road you had to send back the tax disk. So the question is - is this car legally taxed to be on the road? TIA

[Ethel]

Use this to check the current status of the vehicle:

http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/ application;JSESSIONID_EvlPortalApp=LcpCpS09Jn Tpxv51yMdGnpTL3t1qhcpNLvBsGGTrNxDvffCJLllD!-13 39179564!-1985395342?origin=vnav_bar.jsp&event =bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid= Vehicle+Enquiry

If it shows it is taxed, you can drive it. If it says it is SORN, you can't

[KRUSTYMAN]

Many thanks ETHEL. I don't usually click on links on any website if I can help it but like many other grateful ABers who you've helped directly or indirectly I know you to be trustworthy and did indeed click on the link you provided. Unfortunately the site was last updated 16.07.08 so it wasn't of much relavence in this case but I hope the link will help others. I think it might be easier to try and get in touch with the DVLA by phone (God help me) or just go ahead and purchase 6mths road tax anyway, but again many thanks, your knowledge seems to span a great many subjects for which we are all grateful for.

[Ethel]

Don't buy the road tax unless you are sure you have to. It is an absolute nonsense to declare a car as SORN and not return the tax disc for a refund, which would the usual thing to do.

I have given this more thought and am convinced you can drive the vehicle on this tax disc. Declaring a vehicle as SORN does not automatically cancel the tax disc - you have to send it back for a refund.

As the tax disc is still in the vehicle, it has never been cancelled and refunded and is therefore still valid.

A quick phone call to the DVLA should put your mind at rest though.

[SeaJayPea]

I think you'll find that the Last updated date refers to the site itself, not the data behind it. If it shows the car is taxed, it is. If that's the case, you'll be fine

[KRUSTYMAN]

Many thanks SeaJayPea. The site does say that the car is taxed But I will definitely make the call to the DVLA just to be on the safe side considering the penalty for driving a vehicle while a SORN is in force is a �5,000 fine and possible imprisonment! I know it has a tax disc and a SORN so it's a catch22 situation and I know who'll end up the loser if I'm pulled over and it won't be PC Plod!

[moomintroll1]

A SORN declaration automatically expires when the keeper is changed. I presume you have notified DVLA of the change of keeper, in which case the vehicle is no longer the subject of a SORN declaration, even if one was previously in force.

So as you appear to have a valid tax disc, I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about.