Any vehicle that's driven on Britain's road's needs to be covered by third party insurance as a minimum. Motor vehicles that aren't being used can, as things stand, sit uninsured without issue. However, new legislation coming into force this Spring means this will no longer be the case.
What's changing?
Once the changes take force any vehicle registered for use on the road will need to be insured. This applies to all cars, vans, motorbikes, motorhomes and trucks, even if they aren't in use.
Responsibility for insuring a vehicle registered as roadworthy (and taxed accordingly) will sit with its registered keeper so even if you're not a vehicle's main driver you'll need to make sure it's insured.
Fail to do this and you'll face a fixed penalty of £100 at the very minimum, fines of up to £1,000 and court prosecution will be used in a worst case scenario.
Will I need to insure my vehicle?
If you are the registered keeper of a motor vehicle - albeit one that's sitting in a garage unused - you need to make sure it's insured. This applies equally to classic cars (even those that have a nil value tax disc), motorhomes and motorbikes that are only used a couple of times a year. Even if temporary insurance has sufficed previously this will no longer be the case.
The only way to get around insuring a vehicle you're not using is to officially declare it off-road by registering it as SORN. Doing so will exempt it from the compulsory insurance requirement.
How do I declare a vehicle SORN?
Declaring an infrequently used vehicle SORN is relatively straightforward, and it can be done free of charge. You simply need to notify the DVLA by completing a form on their website - you will need to be the registered owner to do this. You'll be asked for a reference number which you'll find in your vehicle's logbook, or on a tax disc or SORN renewal reminder form (V11) that you'll have been sent by the DVLA.
Once you've completed the SORN declaration form you'll receive confirmation that your vehicle is officially classed as unused (and therefore exempt from the insurance requirement) within 4 weeks. This declaration will last for 12 months after which you'll be asked to renew the SORN.
What if I want to use the vehicle again?
Driving a vehicle that's been declared SORN is illegal. However, reinstating its roadworthy status is simple. All you need to do is tax and insure it and you'll be entitled to drive it on public roads.
If you only want to use the vehicle temporarily you'll need to ensure it's roadworthy, tax it, get temporary insurance and then declare it SORN once you stop using it again.
When do the changes take effect?
We know that the changes are going to come into effect this Spring, but the DVLA have not yet confirmed exactly when this will be. Notifications are now being sent out with tax disc renewal reminders and the DVLA will also be writing to registered owners whose vehicles are neither insured or declared SORN so it's likely to be very soon.
Read more: New Compulsory Car Insurance Laws: How to Stay Legal
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Originally Posted by MATT C Ringworm Tuning
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