Posted By : Craig Gingell, 17-Jul-2003, 11:00am

I received a letter from the DVLA this week regarding my 1964 Spitfire. The letter states:

"The excise licence for the above vehicle expired on 31/03/2003 and subsequently, the vehicle does not seem to have been relicensed or a SORN declaration made.

Our latest information shows that you were the vehicle's keeper on the 01/04/2003 (Date of alleged offence).

If you were responsible for this alleged offence, you may prevent court action by paying an Out of Court Settlement. The amount due is Â£25.00 and payment must be received at this office by 29/07/2003. If payment is not received by that date, the offer is automatically increased to Â£45.00 and you will have until the 05/08/2003 to pay the higher amount."

My Spitfire has been off the road since before Christmas. A slight oversight on my part, but I never realised I was commiting an offence by not returning the SORN.

However, I phoned the DVLA, and with any luck all is sorted if I return a completed SORN now.

Craig

Followups :

SORN - a warning to all

Posted By : Jason Chinn, 17-Jul-2003, 11:24am

I was concerned about SORN so in April I wrote to the DVLA and asked. This is what they told me

.....

It might be helpful if I explain that on the 31 January 1998 the law
changed. Keepers are now required to notify DVLA if their vehicles are to be
kept off the public road unlicensed.

The scheme only applies to vehicle where a licence was in force on or after
31 January 1998. As your vehicle was unlicensed on this date, it does not
fall into the SORN scheme. It will only become liable to SORN if it is
relicensed and then subsequently taken off the road.

More information regarding the SORN scheme can be found on our website.

Regards

Liz Milward
Customer Enquiries Vehicles

For further information on Driver and Vehicle Licensing visit our web site on http://www.dvla.gov.uk

......

J

Section : Vehicle Licence (Road Tax)

SORN - a warning to all

Followups :

SORN - a warning to all