From: A.Lee on
Fred <fred(a)no-email.here.invalid> wrote:

> snipped moving untaxed car ....
> The problem is moving it: the tax has expired. If we put 6 months tax
> on, we could drive it to our house. Is this worth doing because would
> a taxed car be more desirable to a buyer?

A T+T'd car is always more desirable than one without tax or test.
If it still has a MOT, then I would defintiely get it taxed.

> If not, what other options are there? I don't think it would be worth
> our while having it professionally recovered would it? (It will be a
> twenty miles-ish trip) Would it be worth considering towing it
> ourselves? I presume a SORN car can be towed? If so, is it allowed to
> have the engine on to give power steering and brakes?

Legally, no it cannot be towed when Sorn'd. Trailer only, or , I supect,
one of the trailers which lift the 2 front wheels.
In real life, if a short distance, with no cameras around, then it may
be worth the risk of moving it while SORN'd.
Alan.
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From: Chris Whelan on
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 12:44:11 +0000, Fred wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Not exactly about maintenance but about cars, so I hope this is not too
> far off topic; apologies if it is.
>
> An elderly relative has had to stop driving for medical reasons and
> doesn't want strangers coming to look at the car at their house, so has
> asked us to sell it for them. For our convenience, it would be best if
> we could move the car to our house, so that buyers can come and
> view/test drive here.
>
> The problem is moving it: the tax has expired. If we put 6 months tax
> on, we could drive it to our house. Is this worth doing because would a
> taxed car be more desirable to a buyer?
>
> If not, what other options are there? I don't think it would be worth
> our while having it professionally recovered would it? (It will be a
> twenty miles-ish trip) Would it be worth considering towing it
> ourselves? I presume a SORN car can be towed? If so, is it allowed to
> have the engine on to give power steering and brakes?
>
> TIA

Sadly, ITYF that a SORNed vehicle cannot be legally towed.

If the vehicle is legal in every other respect, why not tax it, drive it,
then hand the tax in. That way,it will only cost you a month's tax. Far
cheaper than having it recovered.

I would advertise it as close to the first of the month, and move it the
same day. If you find a buyer within that month, factor the outstanding
tax into any price negotiations.

If it remains unsold near the end of the month, cash the tax in.

Whether having current tax on the vehicle contributes to its saleability
depends to some extent on the sale value of the vehicle; a really low
value car would perhaps be slightly more desirable with tax, with
something more expensive it won't make much difference.

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.
From: Chris Whelan on
On Sun, 14 Feb 2010 13:29:56 +0000, A.Lee wrote:

[...]

> Legally, no it cannot be towed when Sorn'd. Trailer only, or , I supect,
> one of the trailers which lift the 2 front wheels.

My understanding is that no part of the vehicle can be in contact with
the road if it is SORNed, so towing with a dolly would be equally illegal.

> In real life, if a
> short distance, with no cameras around, then it may be worth the risk of
> moving it while SORN'd.

Perhaps not, as an elderly relative, who will still be the registered
keeper, would also be liable to prosecution.

If it's a mid-band tax rate vehicle, it's only going to cost £175/12 =
£14.58 to tax it for a month.

I know what I would do!

Chris

--
Remove prejudice to reply.
From: Adrian on
Fred <fred(a)no-email.here.invalid> gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

> The problem is moving it: the tax has expired. If we put 6 months tax
> on, we could drive it to our house. Is this worth doing because would a
> taxed car be more desirable to a buyer?

Depends what it is, and your attitude to the hassle. If it's a reasonably
new and valuable car, and you really don't need the grief, it'll be well
worth swallowing a small hit on the value and getting a trader to buy it
- they can collect it on trade plates.

Otherwise, yes, tax (which, of course, means MOT & insurance) will not
only allow you to move it, but it'll make it much easier to sell.

> If not, what other options are there? I don't think it would be worth
> our while having it professionally recovered would it? (It will be a
> twenty miles-ish trip) Would it be worth considering towing it
> ourselves? I presume a SORN car can be towed? If so, is it allowed to
> have the engine on to give power steering and brakes?

If any of the towed car's wheels are on the road, it must be legal.
From: IanT on

"A.Lee" <alan(a)darkroom.+.com> wrote in message
news:1jdwnwm.bb89gs1d7dn9cN%alan(a)darkroom.+.com...
> Fred <fred(a)no-email.here.invalid> wrote:
>
>> snipped moving untaxed car ....
>> The problem is moving it: the tax has expired. If we put 6 months tax
>> on, we could drive it to our house. Is this worth doing because would
>> a taxed car be more desirable to a buyer?
>
> A T+T'd car is always more desirable than one without tax or test.
> If it still has a MOT, then I would defintiely get it taxed.
>
>> If not, what other options are there? I don't think it would be worth
>> our while having it professionally recovered would it? (It will be a
>> twenty miles-ish trip) Would it be worth considering towing it
>> ourselves? I presume a SORN car can be towed? If so, is it allowed to
>> have the engine on to give power steering and brakes?
>
> Legally, no it cannot be towed when Sorn'd. Trailer only, or , I supect,
> one of the trailers which lift the 2 front wheels.
> In real life, if a short distance, with no cameras around, then it may
> be worth the risk of moving it while SORN'd.
> Alan.
> --
> To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'.

If it is found at another address then both driver and keeper will
be prosecuted. That's if the car is not towed away by Police first.