I taxed my E36 a couple of weeks ago, I've owned the car for a few months but it's been in the garage over winter so I wasn't using it.

Anyway, when I went to tax the car it said that the SORN had expired and the car had been unlicenced for about a year. Although I have not recieved anything in the post yet I do expect to recieve a letter about it, but my question is, how am I supposed to know if it's on SORN or not when I bought it, is it legally my duty to check, and also, if I recieve the fine, I would only be willing to pay from the point I acquired the car, I don't see why I should have to pay for someone elses' mistake.

IMO when the DVLA issued me the V5 in my name they should've cross referenced this and sent me a reminder saying the SORN had expired, but no, i only find out when I go to tax the car.

 

How big is the fine?

 

I haven't got the fine yet, but I expect to get one through since I am the registered owner. It said when i taxed the car that they will be in contact about the "offence".

 

You should've re sorned it when you bought it. The registered keeper is responsible, so upon change of ownership the expectation would've been for you to tax the car. Therefore you are liable for the sorn and the fine I'm afraid.

Iirc it's about £60-£80 the fine

 

Cool no worries, I will pay that if I get it as there's no point in arguing about that sort of money. It just bugs me how they can basically entrap you into paying the fine "becuase I never checked" like they're taking advantage of people being naive, they sent me the V5, they should bloody send me the tax reminder as well....

 

Lol, something I was once told by some "helpful" sort at TFL - ignorance is no excuse

 

Why would you need to check? If you've bought a car with no tax id have thought it was pretty obvious you now need to tax it or sorn it? But you would only be liable from the date you aquired the car.

 

Agreed, but if you're told it's already on sorn and like me you don't check, thats when the problems start.

 

I'd be interested to no what happens. I didnt relise that when you buy a car they dont send you a tax reminder. Every car i have bought that was taxed is SORND. But i have 3 Cars that bought and storred that i have not SORNED. one of which is 3years ago and the other two 18mounths ago. Now i have heard nothing at all from DVLA. But just resently its been brought to my attention that i should have written to the DVLA and imformed them... So do i keep my head down? Or do i call them up and see what they say? I was thinking of going to my local office and seeing whats what.. Im shitting a brick.

 

^ Pretty much what happened to me mate, the car had been sorned prior to my ownership, but apprently this expires as well. I recieved nothing about this when I registered it and didn't know until I went to tax the car.
I appreciate there is a system, but I think they also tailor it so they can catch people out who haven't been very diligent

 

If you buy an untaxed car, you have to SORN it or tax it.

It really is as simple as that. Any previous SORN does not pass on with ownership

 

i had the same letter 3 weeks later fined or go court 35 quid if you pay rightaway then goes to 55 then to court paid the thirty five quid robbing barstools

 

If its sorned by the previous owner surly u dont have to? Am not sure with this, i sold a car, claimed me tax back but the lad i sold it to still got a fine.. Strange one that

 

regardless if your aware or not what happens id have thought when youve bought a new motor its your priority to make sure you find out just so you dont get stung?
ultimately its the new owners responsability to make sure everythings above board and it only takes a few minutes on google to find out.

 

You cannot sorn a car just bought until logbook comes back in your name

 

I get a letter almost every time I buy something saying that the sorn had expired and it was an offence bla bla bla
But I always send/email the sorn a couple of weeks after the v5 was sent otherwise you get it back saying its not in your name and its usually in the same post on the same day lol
Least these days you can email it but same thing goes
You sorn it and the message appears about an offence etc
The last keeper should sorn and you should soon as you can and the system allows but don't sweat it within a month I guess

 

Read post 11, it's very simple.

 

https://www.gov.uk/register-sorn-sta...d-notification

 

Wrong,you simply fill in a form and send it to the dvla,you can download the form off t'internet or pick it up at DVLA local office.
[QUOTE=Phil-zetec-S;6261620]If its sorned by the previous owner surly u dont have to? Am not sure with this, i sold a car, claimed me tax back but the lad i sold it to still got a fine.. Strange one that[/QUOTE/]

Nope,as soon as you buy it,it becomes your responsibility.



Spot on.
Say fuck all,you wouldn't pop into the copshop to tell them you just did 35 in a 30 would you?
If your concerned "sell" the car onto a mate/family member and then get them to start the SORN process. I've got some cars that I've never sorned,but their in my name and address yet I've never recieved a letter.
Doubt you'll hear anything,had the same with the saph shell I had off slider,was out by about a month and the wording says we "may" get in touch with you regarding this offence.

Did you also know that when you recieve a fine for not declaring SORN of £80 reduced to £40 and some bumph of "you may also want to pay the back tax of £30 odd" you don't need to pay that?
Just send the cheque for £40 off to Bournemouth and sleep easy as its a "voluntary" payment.
Found this out by accident!!!!