Drivers could be paying thousands too much road | Tech News

Motorists could be unnecessarily forking out for taxes that do not really apply to them, one knowledgeable has cautioned. If your car is sitting idle and saved on non-public property, corresponding to a driveway, you may be eligible for a road tax exemption.

Richard Dornan, Motoring Expert at AChoice, highlighted that quite a few drivers could be unnecessarily paying road tax as a result of they’re unaware of a lesser-known DVLA exemption.

This is named Statutory Off Road Notification.

There are varied the reason why somebody may depart their car parked in a driveway or storage fully unused for prolonged intervals.

For occasion, in the event that they’re learning at college elsewhere, travelling overseas or briefly unable to drive, stories Devon Live. 

Nevertheless, to slash this tax invoice you will first need to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification, or SORN.

The knowledgeable clarified: “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 homeowners do not need to pay vehicle tax or insurance coverage whereas their car stays unused for no matter cause.

However, motorists need to be cautious as any vehicle stored on a public road must be taxed, even when it isn’t being pushed.”

You can submit a SORN application online, by telephone or through the post.

If it’s approved, there are still certain circumstances when you can drive the vehicle on a public road such as taking it to and from a pre-booked 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, homeowners face an initial £30 wonderful, plus twice the quantity of any excellent 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 a vehicle SORN, you might qualify for a tax refund masking any remaining months you have already paid road tax for.

Should you need to make use of or keep the vehicle on public roads following a SORN declaration, you will need to tax it again instantly.

Further particulars about SORN can be found on Gov.uk.