People could be spending money on something they don’t need but they still need to take action
Motorists could be forking out for taxes that don’t actually apply to them, one expert has cautioned. If your car is sitting unused and stored on private property, such as a driveway, you might be eligible for a road tax exemption.
Richard Dornan, Motoring Expert at AChoice, highlighted that many drivers may be unnecessarily paying road tax because they’re unaware of a little-known DVLA exemption. This is called Statutory Off Road Notification.
There are numerous reasons why someone might leave their car parked in a driveway or garage completely unused for extended periods. For instance, if they’re studying at university elsewhere, travelling abroad or temporarily unable to drive.
However there are rules that apply. To slash this tax bill you’ll first need to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification, or SORN, reports Devon Live.
The expert explained: “The DVLA states that any car kept on public roads must be taxed and insured. But if a vehicle is not in use and kept off-road, such as in a garage or on private land, it can be declared SORN.
“This means owners don’t need to pay vehicle tax or insurance while their car remains unused for whatever reason. However, motorists need to be careful as any vehicle kept on a public road needs to be taxed, even if it’s not being driven.”
You can submit a SORN application online, by telephone or through the post. If it’s approved, there are still certain situations when you can drive the vehicle on public roads, such as taking it to and from a pre-arranged MOT or other testing appointment.
If you drive or keep a SORN vehicle on a public road for any other reason you could face fines of up to £2,500. The expert added: “If a vehicle with a SORN in place is left on a public road, owners face an initial £30 fine, plus twice the amount of any outstanding vehicle tax.
“If this goes unpaid, the case could be taken to a magistrates’ court, where the penalty increases to £1,000 or five times the unpaid tax – whichever is greater. The consequences don’t stop there. If you’re caught using or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road despite having a SORN, the fine can rise to £2,500.”
After declaring your motor SORN, you may qualify for a tax rebate covering any remaining months you’ve already stumped up road tax for. Should you need to use or park the motor on public highways following your SORN declaration, you’ll be required to tax it again immediately.
Further details regarding SORN are available on Gov.uk.