Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Big_Al on 11 April 2012, 20:36:04

Title: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 11 April 2012, 20:36:04
looking at a certain Elite for sale on here has prompted this question. :-\ :-\

If I were to buy a car without MOT & tax which is on a SORN . Provided I had insurance in place  could I ?

1.    Pre book an Mot at a testing  station local to me & drive the car from the purchase place to this mot test station for an mot. Even      though    my local testing station is 100 ish miles from where the car is now?

2. The vehicle is on SORN so has no tax & cant be taxed without an MOT  so will be driven to be tested without any tax.

3. Once MOT 'd   can be taxed straight away on way back from test station ( provided it passes of course ;D ;D ;D

Any thoughts or suggestions on this  . . .   or have I lost the plot thinking this might be legal :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[    TIA       AL  :y :y :y
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Del Boy on 11 April 2012, 21:10:36
As long as you have insurance and you're driving it to an MOT station it's perfectly legal even when SORN :y. If it's booked for an MOT, and you're driving it there, then you're covered irrelevant of distance.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 11 April 2012, 21:15:26


Just Googled it and bit of grey area it seems.  Test must be pre booked & they must record your Reg. No.

One site also says your insurance could be invalid if your vehicle has no current MOT    . . .   can of WORMS  comes to mind here :-\ :-\ :-\     
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 11 April 2012, 21:17:50
As long as you have insurance and you're driving it to an MOT station it's perfectly legal even when SORN :y. If it's booked for an MOT, and you're driving it there, then you're covered irrelevant of distance.


Thanks Del     . . . .    interesting question though :y :y :y
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: ninjapirate on 11 April 2012, 21:29:45
pretty sure it has to be within reason distance wise, also most insurance wont be valid without a valid mot. you have to argue it with what ever copper pulls you to if they take your car and leave you with a long walk home.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Del Boy on 11 April 2012, 21:42:19
It is 100% legal to drive a SORN car to an MOT test centre if you have insurance.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: the alarming man on 11 April 2012, 21:44:45


Just Googled it and bit of grey area it seems.  Test must be pre booked & they must record your Reg. No.

One site also says your insurance could be invalid if your vehicle has no current MOT    . . .   can of WORMS  comes to mind here :-\ :-\ :-\     





how far is the car from home??...i guess best way is to get it trailered..?? :y
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Del Boy on 11 April 2012, 21:50:15
Well I've done it on many occasions, picked up an untaxed car with no MOT, a few times from London and driven them to my MOT centre back here in Ashford. The law states you're covered if you've Pre-Booked the MOT and you have calid insurance cover, nowhere have inread anything about distance. If they say reasonable distance, what's reasonable will differ between different people.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Del Boy on 11 April 2012, 21:53:19
Says on this page about how you can drive to an MOT centre with a SORN in place:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/UntaxedVehicle/DG_069727
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: marrus69 on 11 April 2012, 22:00:18
last time i did it i phoned police to check the nearest mot centre to me my home address,was given one but i drove passed 3 mot places on the way.thay have mot places to advise me to go to to make it legal.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Crazycarzowner on 11 April 2012, 22:10:44
The only thing is though, and you may all disagree with me here - If and I'm saying 'IF' you take the chance and drive a car with no MOT any distance to a test station, (especially one that you don't know or that has been off the road a considerable amount of time), and god forbid something happened on the way, would it be worth the risk of a) accident b) sommat worse c)all the grief after the event???
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: dbug on 12 April 2012, 00:08:01
Says on this page about how you can drive to an MOT centre with a SORN in place:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/UntaxedVehicle/DG_069727

I'm with Del on this -

Quote
Driving to an MOT test when a SORN is in place

You can drive your vehicle to and from a pre-arranged test at an MOT test station provided you have adequate insurance cover in place for that vehicle.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Vamps on 12 April 2012, 00:17:11
The only thing is though, and you may all disagree with me here - If and I'm saying 'IF' you take the chance and drive a car with no MOT any distance to a test station, (especially one that you don't know or that has been off the road a considerable amount of time), and god forbid something happened on the way, would it be worth the risk of a) accident b) sommat worse c)all the grief after the event???

I tend to agree with you, this car has stood for 3 years, who knows how it will drive......For the extra cost got to be worth getting it delivered, costs tend to be around £1.00 per mile, got to be worth not risking everything for...... :y :y
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 April 2012, 00:25:14
Hmm. MOT and tax or not, you are still responsible for ensuring the car you're driving meets the construction and use regs. If it were a completely unknown car to me I'd be driving it to the nearest MOT station I could find after a quick check over followed by the post office for a tax disk.

If the copper who pulls you over is having a good day, you might get let off with taking it half way across the country for an MOT. It's clearly not a reasonable use of the "to and from MOT" exemption to do so, so if he's having a bad day, expect the book thrown at you.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 12 April 2012, 17:01:26
Crikey !! :o :o :o :o    I did mention open opening up the worm can in an earlier post on this thread ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Seems to be fair difference of opinions though.

As for the point of something happening accident wise on the way to any pre booked test on a vehicle without a current MOT. how else are you going to get one done, unless you drive it there  ?    Dont think they will come to you  :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\

Any way . . . think I'll give this one a miss & keep looking for one with a bit of MOT at least . Was not to sure about the colour of that one any way :o :o :o :o :o

Thanks for the replies everyone.      regards, Al  :y :y :y :y :y 
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: flyer 0712 on 12 April 2012, 17:07:19
Sure it used to be ok provided it was booked in with reg number....but at the nearest m.o.t.station...
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: bootie on 12 April 2012, 17:11:06
Why not get the seller to MOT it, at your expense, after you have bought it. It might be that his local garage can do a pre MOT just to see if it would pass. How much extra are you going to pay for one with Tax and MOT?

Worthwhile thinking about isn't it?
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Crazycarzowner on 12 April 2012, 18:34:26
As for the point of something happening accident wise on the way to any pre booked test on a vehicle without a current MOT. how else are you going to get one done, unless you drive it there  ?    Dont think they will come to you

All I'm saying Big Al is that a car that has 'just' ran out of MOT wouldn't be too much of an issue as it has at least been used. The issue is if it hasn't moved for a few years then that's when I'd be wary i.e. brakes needing freeing off recomissioning, tyres deformed due to standing, corrosion possibly, bushes perishing.

Don't get me wrong I don't want to sound over critical and yes I've took cars myself for MOT's when the old one has run out but always used the nearest one and the MOT's were only out by a few weeks in most cases.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 12 April 2012, 19:40:34
As for the point of something happening accident wise on the way to any pre booked test on a vehicle without a current MOT. how else are you going to get one done, unless you drive it there  ?    Dont think they will come to you

All I'm saying Big Al is that a car that has 'just' ran out of MOT wouldn't be too much of an issue as it has at least been used. The issue is if it hasn't moved for a few years then that's when I'd be wary i.e. brakes needing freeing off recomissioning, tyres deformed due to standing, corrosion possibly, bushes perishing.

Don't get me wrong I don't want to sound over critical and yes I've took cars myself for MOT's when the old one has run out but always used the nearest one and the MOT's were only out by a few weeks in most cases.



Sorry Jason,  I think I probably phrased the bit  about getting the car to a test a bit incorrectly  :-[      Your point was taken & valued . No offence meant at all :-[ :-[ :-[
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Darth Loo-knee on 12 April 2012, 20:26:41
looking at a certain Elite for sale on here has prompted this question. :-\ :-\

If I were to buy a car without MOT & tax which is on a SORN . Provided I had insurance in place  could I ?

1.    Pre book an Mot at a testing  station local to me & drive the car from the purchase place to this mot test station for an mot. Even      though    my local testing station is 100 ish miles from where the car is now?

2. The vehicle is on SORN so has no tax & cant be taxed without an MOT  so will be driven to be tested without any tax.

3. Once MOT 'd   can be taxed straight away on way back from test station ( provided it passes of course ;D ;D ;D

Any thoughts or suggestions on this  . . .   or have I lost the plot thinking this might be legal :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[    TIA       AL  :y :y :y


My opinion only. If you are going to be driving 100 miles to MOT a car your taking the pish... And am sure a copper would do you if you were pulled over.
If a car is down as SORN then has no Tax or MOT, there is no other way to get it there other than to drive it. So would assume insurance is wanted plus car booked in at a local MOT station who will take your reg number etc.. I am sure you will also be covered to drive straight home too.
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 12 April 2012, 21:08:29
looking at a certain Elite for sale on here has prompted this question. :-\ :-\

If I were to buy a car without MOT & tax which is on a SORN . Provided I had insurance in place  could I ?

1.    Pre book an Mot at a testing  station local to me & drive the car from the purchase place to this mot test station for an mot. Even      though    my local testing station is 100 ish miles from where the car is now?

2. The vehicle is on SORN so has no tax & cant be taxed without an MOT  so will be driven to be tested without any tax.

3. Once MOT 'd   can be taxed straight away on way back from test station ( provided it passes of course ;D ;D ;D

Any thoughts or suggestions on this  . . .   or have I lost the plot thinking this might be legal :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[    TIA       AL  :y :y :y


My opinion only. If you are going to be driving 100 miles to MOT a car your taking the pish... And am sure a copper would do you if you were pulled over.
If a car is down as SORN then has no Tax or MOT, there is no other way to get it there other than to drive it. So would assume insurance is wanted plus car booked in at a local MOT station who will take your reg number etc.. I am sure you will also be covered to drive straight home too.


Totally agree Daz, 100 miles is taking the pish. :-[ :-[  But can't seem to find any legislation to say you can't do it.

Some on here seem to think its OK. others don't.

Was hoping for a reply from one of the ex police guys on here to hear their opinion.     

Safest way round this in my opinion would to trailer or transporter it back then get it sorted this end

Regards, Al :y

 
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: hotel21 on 12 April 2012, 22:30:06
Reply from one of the 'ex police' guys on here.

How about application of a tad of common sense?

Scenario

Fella has just bought a car sight unseen on e-bay thats been sorned for past 3 years.  Fella selling says car is first class, nothing much needed for an MOT as far as he can see (but he;s only driven the car the length of his driveway  So.  Thats fine then.....

Billy Buyer decides to book the car into his local test station, fully aware that its a get out loophole (apparently) to drive his new car 350 miles or so for its 'pre-booked test'.  And it wont need much to pass a test.  Will it?

Half way there it seizes a wheel bearing/brake imbalance/suspension collapse/tyre blowout and takes out a bus queue that includes a member of my family who is subsequently laid out on a slab for later planting/burning.

Apart from me being a tad miffed, how would you now be feeling???

Saved a couple of quid transport fee though, eh??......   ::)
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Crazycarzowner on 12 April 2012, 22:32:23
Hi Al, no offence taken mate. As far as I know its advised to take it to the nearest Testing station, but I cannot find any legislation putting it in black & white. Off the Direct gov web -:

Direct.gov.uk/motoring wrote:Why you need an MOT certificate

It is generally an offence to use on a public road, a vehicle of testable age that doesn’t have a current test certificate, except when:

    taking it to a test station for an MOT test booked in advance
    bringing it away from a test station after it has failed the MOT test, to a place of repair
    taking it to a place, by previous arrangement, where problems that caused the vehicle to fail its MOT test, can be repaired
    bringing it away from a place where the problems with the vehicle have been repaired

Even in the above circumstances you may still be prosecuted for driving an unroadworthy vehicle if it doesn’t comply with various regulations affecting its construction and use. Your car insurance may also be invalid.

The police can ask to see an MOT certificate for a vehicle that needs to have one. They also have access to the computerised records of MOT test results and can tell if the MOT certificate for your vehicle has expired.

It is your responsibility as the vehicle owner to ensure that the due MOT test is carried out in time. You can use the peel off reminder sticker on the front of the certificate and put it in a place where you’ll be reminded of the expiry date. A place like the sun visor or the back of the tax disc holder facing inside the vehicle.

The penalty for driving a vehicle on the road with an expired MOT certificate is a fixed penalty notice from the police, currently £60, or a court fine up to a maximum of a £1,000.

Now in my short time as a traffic plod I've seen some horrors on the road WITH MOT's and how I don't know  :o :o :o & subsequently had them 'removed from the road'. What the legislation is saying is even if you go to the prebooked MOT you CAN still be prosecuted IF the car is unroadworthy even with a pre-booked MOT.

But whos to say MOT's are the be all & end all, went to a bump the other day, 2 cars one ploughed into the rear of another. Driver of the offending vehicle stated brake failure as the cause, saying nothing happened when they were applied. This just 2 weeks after MOT where the brakes were overhauled as a result of failing the test. One big bill later & new MOT....  2 weeks later failed????  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: hotel21 on 12 April 2012, 22:35:39
Quote
You can use the peel off reminder sticker on the front of the certificate and put it in a place where you’ll be reminded of the expiry date. A place like the sun visor or the back of the tax disc holder facing inside the vehicle.

Not on the latest incarnation of test cert you cant..... ;)
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: dbug on 13 April 2012, 00:38:04
Quote
You can use the peel off reminder sticker on the front of the certificate and put it in a place where you’ll be reminded of the expiry date. A place like the sun visor or the back of the tax disc holder facing inside the vehicle.

Not on the latest incarnation of test cert you cant..... ;)

Yep its an A4 black & white print out - not at all distinctive and easy to chuck out as rubbish  ???
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Vamps on 13 April 2012, 01:23:17
Reply from one of the 'ex police' guys on here.

How about application of a tad of common sense?

Scenario

Fella has just bought a car sight unseen on e-bay thats been sorned for past 3 years.  Fella selling says car is first class, nothing much needed for an MOT as far as he can see (but he;s only driven the car the length of his driveway  So.  Thats fine then.....

Billy Buyer decides to book the car into his local test station, fully aware that its a get out loophole (apparently) to drive his new car 350 miles or so for its 'pre-booked test'.  And it wont need much to pass a test.  Will it?

Half way there it seizes a wheel bearing/brake imbalance/suspension collapse/tyre blowout and takes out a bus queue that includes a member of my family who is subsequently laid out on a slab for later planting/burning.

Apart from me being a tad miffed, how would you now be feeling???

Saved a couple of quid transport fee though, eh??......   ::)

The way OOF has been going recently they would want the driver shot in front of his family....... :( :( :(
Sadly, in some ways OOF is losing it original purpose and recent internal politics becoming more obvious... :( :(
Title: Re: MOT & Tax question Re: SORN
Post by: Big_Al on 13 April 2012, 07:31:11
Reply from one of the 'ex police' guys on here.

How about application of a tad of common sense?

Scenario

Fella has just bought a car sight unseen on e-bay thats been sorned for past 3 years.  Fella selling says car is first class, nothing much needed for an MOT as far as he can see (but he;s only driven the car the length of his driveway  So.  Thats fine then.....

Billy Buyer decides to book the car into his local test station, fully aware that its a get out loophole (apparently) to drive his new car 350 miles or so for its 'pre-booked test'.  And it wont need much to pass a test.  Will it?

Half way there it seizes a wheel bearing/brake imbalance/suspension collapse/tyre blowout and takes out a bus queue that includes a member of my family who is subsequently laid out on a slab for later planting/burning.

Apart from me being a tad miffed, how would you now be feeling???

Saved a couple of quid transport fee though, eh??......   ::)


You have summed it up exactly there Hotel 21.   In this example of the car being stored 3 years or so makes for much more risk of something going wrong & causing a possible & potentally fatal accident.

My original post was asking "is it legal"  to take this approach.  Looking into it now, I'm sure that it occurs on a daily basis.
I have a mate who has a transporter ,but he is away for another 10 days so i was just looking at other possible alternatives.

My last post said that my opinion is now that trailer/transporter would be the sensible way to go on this. 

Not going for this car now though   . . .     Not my colour. . .  ;D ;D ;D