15 replies to this topic

[mab01uk]

Reminder that from early 2011 a new scheme is being introduced to make sure that all vehicles stay insured or a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is made. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) are working together to reduce the number of uninsured drivers.

From early 2011, if it appears from the database comparison that a vehicle has no insurance or no SORN, a letter will be sent to the registered keeper.

If the keeper takes no action, the keeper faces:

* a fixed penalty fine of £100
* court prosecution and be fined up to £1,000
* having the vehicle clamped, seized and destroyed

http://www.direct.go...rance/DG_186696

http://activeinsuran...nforcement-cie/

[M44K TS]

I thought something similar was already in place?

[pikey7]

typical bureaucrats.

So what if, like I sometimes do, come back to the uk, to my car, which has been sorned while i'm abroad, and am maybe only back for say 30 days? It means I have to get it insured (for 30 days) and moted, then buy 6 months road tax. drive it, then claim back the other 5 months (by which time of course because it'll be a couple of days over one month it'll actually be 4 months back).

and of course, what are the chances of people having bought road tax and insurance on exactly the same day?

So that it stops uninsured people driving? rubbish. It won't stop them at all. All it does is pass the burden to the honest driver. It's simply laziness on the part of the insurance companies and dvla. the police can check on anyones registration on the road at any time and get an instant check if it's registered, who to, if it's insured and taxed. So how does it prevent any crime? It just means people who are unaware (because i'm sure this will be really widely publicised as will the exact start date of "early 2011" lol.) will get stung for £100 because they don't keep a regular check on the infathomable governement web pages.

plus, together with the legislation they bought in over the last few years about annually sorning a car (I never saw a problem with sorning indefinately it until it was ready to go again... less work for us, less work for the DVLA), it'll lead to more fines (which of course is their aim... more money... for nothing).

and all to lower peoples insurance by £30 a year... because we'll all see that saving!

I thought something similar was already in place?

no, its just that the car must be MOTed or SORNed, nothing about insurance. In theory if it's not insured, its garaged or parked on private land, which makes it up to the owner if they WANT to insure it against theft (you can buy parked up policies)

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB) are working together to screw the motorist out of more money.

Fixed the first paragraph for you!

Edited by pikey7, 22 November 2010 - 03:59 AM.

[Dolly 89]

what difference soes this actually make because surely its what you do anyway if your car isnt on the road you sorn it and if it is you insure i already do both of them things anyway so what difference does this actually make?

[AVV IT]

Whilst I don't think this will eradicate uninsured drivers, it will at least provide an automatic fine and therefore a consequence for driving without insurance. After all, the only current consequence is a fine if you get caught that is usually much lower than the cost of an annual insurance premium any way! It will however be interesting to see just how many uninsured drivers will now resort to fraudulently declaring a vehicle as SORN in order to avoid being fined, added bonus for them of course will be that they then won't pay for road tax either!!

Edited by AVV IT, 22 November 2010 - 08:43 AM.

[mk3 Cooper S]

What about cars off the road prior to 1996 - the SORN starting date?

[Ethel]

They can't touch you for anything that predates the legislation.

You could have a car that's taxed, but is no longer insured, perfectly legal as long as you don't put it on the road. The change just means you will also have to declare a SORN as well, a pain in the bum but not a major one.

Just another instance of being presumed guilty by the bureacrats, with a bit of luck it will backfire as it'll create more paperwork for them and people may be encouraged to claim road duty refunds if they have to declare SORN anyway..

[1984mini25]

They can't touch you for anything that predates the legislation.

You could have a car that's taxed, but is no longer insured, perfectly legal as long as you don't put it on the road. The change just means you will also have to declare a SORN as well, a pain in the bum but not a major one.

Just another instance of being presumed guilty by the bureacrats, with a bit of luck it will backfire as it'll create more paperwork for them and people may be encouraged to claim road duty refunds if they have to declare SORN anyway..

Exactly, so instead of me just letting my insurance/tax run out in a few months, as I can’t afford to renew it, but so I don’t have to pay any fees or lose a years no claims. I’d instead have to wait for the insurance to run out and then clam back the last month or so of tax and declare it sorn. Hardly seams worth all the hassle and extra paperwork for one months worth of tax.

[Ethel]

Having looked at Mab's link (like I should have before posting ) it seems they will want your tax disc back regardless, refund or not.

[1984mini25]

Having looked at Mab's link (like I should have before posting ) it seems they will want your tax disc back regardless, refund or not.

Probably so they can then send out another fine for it not being received/lost in the system etc.

[Ethel]

Maybe it will be a job for our new improved post offices.

[blackbelt1990]

I've got two of my cars taxed atm but not insured. They're taxed so that if I need to move them anywhere I can just ring my insurance company and get some temporary insurance, I don't usually use a car for more than 6 months...

pain

[Sir Cheat]

I've got two of my cars taxed atm but not insured. They're taxed so that if I need to move them anywhere I can just ring my insurance company and get some temporary insurance, I don't usually use a car for more than 6 months...

pain

I do the same..

[Darkscamp]

Ok, my scamp is tax exempt so i just renew that each year. But i let my insurance lapse if it looks like i wont use it for a few months, so does this mean i now have to sorn a tax exempt car if let the insurance lapse?


I can see alot of people having a really expensive month each year when they have to tax and insure the car at the same time. I suppose the first time you could tax it for 6months and then 12months thereafter, in effect staggering the ridiculous amount it costs to run a car these days in 6monthly intervals.



It does bring back a funny memory of the post office worker when i went to tax the scamp. 'Would you like 6 or 12 months tax sir?'....'Urm i'll take 12months considering it doesnt cost me anything extra'.......'How do you mean sir?'.............'the cars tax exempt so its free'........'oh yes, that does make sense doesn't it sir'

[Ethel]

Don't be silly, your lovely insurance company will have anticipated that and will let you pay in instalments to help you out. Hell they won't even add more than 10-15% to your premium for doing it

Hope they've got a good stock of Form V20, Apply for a replacement vehicle licence (tax disc) at the ready