Hitchcocks Forum

Just a warning about a SORN regulation that I was unaware of.
If you buy a vehicle on SORN you must either register it or SORN it in your name.
it's not enough to just do the change of ownership.
Seems daft to me but that's DVLA for you.

If you think about it the reason for that is. As the new keeper you are signing SORN to take and transfer responsibility from previous owner to say its still kept of road and if its not you will be held responsible not them.

Well, I suppose so Paul but the very act of changing the ownership should do the same job surely.

Hi guys---------- yes, this little beauty can catch you out if you're not aware of it, but as we all know}---- ignorance is no excuse....Basically it's the logical extension of the ruling that says}------- "SORN is not transferrable".... If you think about the fact that a SORN declaration is YOU, the current owner making an official declaration that YOUR vehicle is currently off road...It must also be a logical then that a NEW owner must make a NEW declaration to cover their own intentions...................... I think that the design of the V5c could be changed to incorporate the rules for a new ownwer and incorporate a "New owner SORN declaration " panel within the part that has to be returned to DVLA SWANSEA for processing....The rest of the system could continue as is with an acknowledgement being returned to you etc.............. Obviously if it is not to be on SORN then it must show a current valid Tax Disc ( Because it is NOT off the road ).........Remember also that any vehicle that is TAX EXEMPT refers only to the payment of monies, you still have to show a valid tax disc that in this case will show NIL in the payment section....

-------------- just to add PETE F--------- you must either SORN or TAX ( not "register" as that has different rules..SORN applies only to those already on the system)

Do you have to insure a bike that is SORNd or if not in use (but not on sorn) ie it may be MOTd and taxed but you do not want to spend the cash on insurance?

-------------If you declare SORN and the vehicle is still taxed then you must return the tax disc for a partial rebate (done on whole months only )......And now we're onto this latest "Continuous Insurance" law....take a look at this }-----http://www.mib.org.uk/Motor+Insurance+D ... /default.h ------------------- the loop-hole being plugged here is the situation where your tax disc was showing "valid" but your insurance had expired and you were still driving on the road.............SOFIASPIN, if your bike is "----not in use" that is different to "Declared off the road".....eg}--- I have a 12 month valid tax etc. and I go on a 6-months holiday....The bike in this case is still legally valid but "not in use"....Now using the same scenario but now I realise that's a waste of tax so I return the disc for a re-fund AND AT THE SAME TIME I must declare SORN...... A SORNed vehicle does NOT need to be insured ( I have 2 bikes on SORN for the last 5 years but are not road-insured ---on house contents instead...BUT, a bike with an" In date" tax disc MUST be supported by equally valid insurance....

--------- and if you were caught driving with an "in-date" Tax Disc but no insurance then that disc was invalid ( because it needed insurance to be obtained in the first place ) AND, as it was now invalid you could also be done for "Fraudulent Display".... So in one sense this Continuous Insurance has done you a favour !!

Thanks Alan, that is extremely helpful. I need to SORN the bike, and then I can ignore insurance and put some time behind me before approaching quotes again.

SS, a couple of flaws in your plan to SORN. Firstly the insurance companies all ask for a declaration of convictions (couldn't think of a more suitable word.....sorry) in the last 5 years. So to expunge your SP30's you will have to SORN for at least 5 years from the date of the last one. If you have a No Claims Bonus on your policy then you will lose it if you SORN for that length of time as all insurance companies, that I have come across, will only allow you to re-use a NCB if it was applicable in the last 12 months. Assuming that you SORN your bikes then you may have use of a car for normal daily commuting etc etc and the rules for all those SP30's will apply to that policy. Insurance companies demand to know them all, not just those applicable to the kind of vehicle you intend to use. If your current premium of say £100 is doubled then the cost is £200 per year but after 5 years you may find a starter policy will cost you more than the £500 extra cost you might incur by continuing your current policy. Then of course and most important of all you would deprive yourself of all that wonderful motorcycle riding. Take it on the chin and keep using them.