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How
does a law abiding motorist stay law abiding
A letter in the May 2007 issue of Safety Fast! from a postmistress
clarified a question a number of V8 members had raised - if DVLA
states that "the earliest you can apply for a SORN is the
15th of the month in which your current vehicle licence expires"
then how can you remain within the draconian SORN regulations if
you are either out of the country or not at home and are unable
to SORN your car? Well the postmistress, Sharon Latta, explains
how to re-licence a car in advance - but does it also apply to the
SORN process that is the question?.
If
you are going to be abroad when your tax disc is due to expire
you may apply to re-licence your car up to two calendar months
in advance. Advance applications can be taken to specific
Post Offices, any office that issues tax discs should be able
to tell you where your nearest one is situated.
Applications must be made on a vehicle licence application form
(V10). You must also submit a letter explaining why you are
applying to re-licence your vehicle so far in advance. If you
give an address abroad the new tax disc can be sent to you there.
All this information can be found in leaflet V100 available
also at any car tax office.
In answer to the question as to whether it can be taxed over
the internet in this situation the answer is no. I would also
hope that people will continue to tax their cars at a Post Office
as this is a very important part of our business and by doing
it over the Internet it will enable the Government to close
down even more Post Office.
Sharon Latta
Postmistress |
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You must have evidence
of having made a SORN!
Remember you must
get a printed receipt from the Post Office counter when your SORN
declaration is processed - this is essential as evidence that you
did make the SORN if DVLA subsequently claim you failed to do so
and try and fine you!
Leaflet V100
Note Leaflet V100 with a section explaining the advance application
process is not currently available online so you have to visit you
local Post Office to collect a copy. DVLA does not make it easy
at all. It will be interesting to see if the advance process also
applies to a SORN because you could just as easily be out of the
country or away from home when that is due! More
from V100
Supporting your local Post Office
When we posted SORN6 on making a SORN online on the DVLA website,
several members in rural areas commented that it was essential that
support for local Post Offices is maintained as they fear closures
will continue. The suggestion was that V8 members living in urban
areas were less concerned over the fate of rural Post Offices. Whilst
that stance is fully understandable, online processing is a convenience
for many. Payment online on the DVLA website by debit card is free
but a £2.50 service charge is made for a payment by credit
card.
Can you SORN
early?
The answer is you can and in a similar way to an advance re-licencing
described above. It is explained in Leaflet V100 2/06. More
Updated:
11.5.07
| Important
update: you can now retax a car from the 5th day of the
month before the start of the new tax disc. (14.12.08)
More |
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