MOT and SORN

[dsmith1974]

Hi, anyone legally minded know what to do here?

The van's just failed its MOT but is taxed until mid Feb. I will probably get the required work done over Jan. Do I have to SORN it now?

Thanks,
Dunc

[paperhouselad]

Hi when does the old mot run out ? you can use it until then. If you sorn it now its still taxed until jan, then you will get a refund for jan. Basically you get a refund for any whole months left, easy to sorn online.Thats as i understand it cheers john.

[ajsimmo]

Not necessarily, it depends when the current MOT runs out, and what it failed on.

If the last MOT certificate has not expired, you can continue to drive it, as long as it has no safety critical defects and you have not been advised that it has dangerous faults by the MOT tester, eg if it failed on having no windscreen washers or a split N/S wiper blade, then you can carry on (best when it's not raining) until fixed & retested or expired. I can't see a copper bothering about that if you are stopped.

If it failed on brakes, steering or tyres etc, or anything that could affect the control of the vehicle, then it's certain that you don't want to be driving it anyway, as it's potentially unsafe and you will almost certainly be committing an offence.

If the MOT has already expired then it's clearly not driveable (apart from directly to/from a prebooked MOT test), but no need to SORN if it's still taxed and insured.

[dsmith1974]

Thanks..

The last mot expires in Feb, and it's just failed an mot now for lheadlight alignment a parking brake light efficiency, a tyre advisory plus four or five excessive corrosion areas (arches, cills and seals)..

It won't be driven now until the work is done and the garage will be keeping it off road on their yard.

If I read the above correctly, it sounds like I don't need to bother about SORN just because it's failed an MOT and can just re tax it in Feb as normal.

[paperhouselad]

As i understand if you sorn it now then re tax it in feb you will get a tax fefund for all of january. The van will be taxed until the end of feb not the middle. Have done this myself cheers.