Sorn motorhome

See Roger G post in 'vehicle not used for long period' thread.

Currently, paying van vehicle tax by monthly direct debit. Tried to contact DVLA via phone and got never-ending recorder messages despite repeatedly selecting option 4. Obviously as I haven't paid for the whole year in advance, I'm not expecting any refund but if SORNED, not wise as to how the D/Debit is recognised and subsequently acted upon in this instance. So might just do it and see what transpires as only three days before end of month.

burlingtonboaby wrote:As supermarket deliveries are impossible to get around here, I intend to use the van to go and get an order from a "click and collect" slot, maybe go for SORN later.
Boaby

Wife hasn't managed to locate or book a slot yet.       May have to travel down to Beverly or Hull, may have to open the tinned Haggis yet.  

Paramedic wrote:Currently, paying van vehicle tax by monthly direct debit. Tried to contact DVLA via phone and got never-ending recorder messages despite repeatedly selecting option 4. Obviously as I haven't paid for the whole year in advance, I'm not expecting any refund but if SORNED, not wise as to how the D/Debit is recognised and subsequently acted upon in this instance. So might just do it and see what transpires as only three days before end of month.

Just received the answer to my query with question on line, GOV into stated DVLA will simply cancel D/Debit. 

Paramedic wrote:

Paramedic wrote:Currently, paying van vehicle tax by monthly direct debit. Tried to contact DVLA via phone and got never-ending recorder messages despite repeatedly selecting option 4. Obviously as I haven't paid for the whole year in advance, I'm not expecting any refund but if SORNED, not wise as to how the D/Debit is recognised and subsequently acted upon in this instance. So might just do it and see what transpires as only three days before end of month.

Just received the answer to my query with question on line, GOV into stated DVLA will simply cancel D/Debit. 

Was just going to post this for you. https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-direct-debit/cancelling

Following this thread.
Re Insurance. A company saying that the cover continues, except when on the road, is fine for them.
But surely the risk for them is practically zero so I will be looking for a reduced premium while SORN'd.
What risk is the insurer exposed to?
At worst, damage to the van on the drive maybe. And the excess will cover that.

I repeat ......

See Roger G post in 'vehicle not used for long period' thread.

PLOUGHLIN wrote:
Was just going to post this for you. https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax-direct-debit/cancelling

Thank you for the info as your offer to help, my regards.

Found it. Thank you. Sorry

Leaving a vehicle idle for six months, just after it's been idle for six months and just before it is idle for six more months is not a good idea. Particularly if it's stored outdoors. I appreciate we can't really drive them anywhere other than the supermarket or up and down your street but expect seized brakes, perished pipes etc through lack of use. Potentially costing more than the saving made on road tax.

You don't need to insure it either, when the current policy expires. I have several vehicles SORNd and not insured. It's my risk, it isn't compulsory to insure a vehicle that is on private property. I reckon that not only is the chancellor going to get considerably reduced road fund licence payments but the insurance companies are going to lose quite a lot of business as well.
I also wonder how many motorhome dealers will go bust. They are all closed and stocked up with millions of pounds worth of stock they can't sell. Though I would imagine it would be possible if I were to contact one and get a professional delivery driver with trade plates, that they could deliver it to my house. Not that I could then drive it anywhere so there's no point. I have read that there are Police stopping motorhomes and instructing them to drive home immediately and not use the vehicle, unless of course the driver can show he is doing it in the course of his necessary work. I used lots of motorhomes when I was doing contract work around the country, getting paid £35 a night for staying off road in laybys etc, and sometimes even on camp sites in winter.

I also once went down the road of not insuring a vehicle. When I came to re-insure it again I found they wouldn't reinstate my NCD.
Regarding leaving vehicles untouched for perhaps two winter, a friend in Corby lives close to one of those vast compounds full of new cars and panel vans, he tells me some sit there for two or three years before being transported away and sold as new.
Al

Leaving a 15 year old van standing for 18 months is asking for trouble. The rear drums on Boxers have problems from lack of use anyway, let alone no use at all.

There are definitely going to be motorhome dealers and manufacturers going bust and I imagine any highly leveraged campsites too. Both industries have basically got to survive 18 months with very little income

I guess when we are allowed out again, we won't be allowed to cross the channel. Suppose the French open their roads to civilians, I doubt that they would welcome us at the same time, even if we were allowed to use our motorhomes.

Paulmold wrote:You get each unused month refunded (takes 4/5 weeks for cheque to arrive).

When I SORNed in November I had the cheque within a week. They are much quicker than they used to be. Just a shame they won't do a BACS.

inspiredron wrote:

Paulmold wrote:You get each unused month refunded (takes 4/5 weeks for cheque to arrive).

When I SORNed in November I had the cheque within a week. They are much quicker than they used to be. Just a shame they won't do a BACS.

Yes I have thought they could pay a refund to the card you paid with, like shops do. I suppose it is because they are the  Government!
---------------
Richard

Good point Ron - as what is left of the banks are closed . . . .Our only remaining bank is closed with a CV sign saying that the nearest bank is in Rugby 11 miles away so when you get there, dodging the traffic Police, there is a sign saying 'Open 10am to 2pm for urgent bank business only' and I don't suppose for one minute that depositing a cheque constitutes 'urgent'
. . . . though I do believe that somewhere I saw it is possible to deposit cheques on line. I think the way is that you scan the cheque, go to your on line bank account, go to the 'deposit a cheque' feature where you can attach an image of the cheque and it will be credited to your account by the Gnomes of Zurich fairies at midnight when no one is watching. Or something like that, it's all majik.

rgermain wrote:

inspiredron wrote:

Paulmold wrote:You get each unused month refunded (takes 4/5 weeks for cheque to arrive).

When I SORNed in November I had the cheque within a week. They are much quicker than they used to be. Just a shame they won't do a BACS.

Yes I have thought they could pay a refund to the card you paid with, like shops do. I suppose it is because they are the  Government!
---------------
Richard

Unlike many commercial places DVLA don't retain details of the card you pay on, so can't refund to it.

My van is 3850kg so the rate of duty is £165 (approx). That is about £14 per month. 
I decided not to sorn as I consider this to be a time when we all need to pull together.
I regard it as a monthly contribution to the increased costs of the NHS.
I suppose I am lucky in some respects to be on a company and a state pension.

Davy

gassygassy wrote:Good point Ron - as what is left of the banks are closed . . . .Our only remaining bank is closed with a CV sign saying that the nearest bank is in Rugby 11 miles away so when you get there, dodging the traffic Police, there is a sign saying 'Open 10am to 2pm for urgent bank business only' and I don't suppose for one minute that depositing a cheque constitutes 'urgent'
. . . . though I do believe that somewhere I saw it is possible to deposit cheques on line. I think the way is that you scan the cheque, go to your on line bank account, go to the 'deposit a cheque' feature where you can attach an image of the cheque and it will be credited to your account by the Gnomes of Zurich fairies at midnight when no one is watching. Or something like that, it's all majik.

My NW bank closed about three years ago, so its a round trip of about 12 miles.

Last week I posted a cheque to the bank with a completed paying slip as I am self isolated.

It was on my account within 48 hours 

Sorted

gassygassy wrote:I guess when we are allowed out again, we won't be allowed to cross the channel. Suppose the French open their roads to civilians, I doubt that they would welcome us at the same time, even if we were allowed to use our motorhomes.

I hope you are wrong and why would they do such a thing, they need our money and I need to get there for many reasons.
-----------
Richard

TeamRienza wrote:My van is 3850kg so the rate of duty is £165 (approx). That is about £14 per month. 
I decided not to sorn as I consider this to be a time when we all need to pull together.
I regard it as a monthly contribution to the increased costs of the NHS.
I suppose I am lucky in some respects to be on a company and a state pension.

Davy

Good point, I wonder if I rushed into sorn and may re tax it in 5 days after thinking about it.
------------
Richard

"I decided not to sorn as I considered this a time when we all need to pull together".

My thoughts exactly.

Well I didn't mention it, but the main reason I cannot use my Nuevo is that we have my mother in law living with us. She is 95 yrs old and cannot care for herself. So we are caring for her full time and there isn't any way that we could use the camper. It is sitting on the drive all forlorn unused and under a thick waterproof cover. That is probably the same situation as it was before we bought it. It was 4 1/2 years old with 1,800 miles on the clock. I bet it stood on someone's drive or in a shed for most of those years. C'est la vie mes amis.

Spending my time in a constructive manor after deciding that I would not be sorning the van (I began to think of practical things) and in order to save the tyres did wonder about lifting the van off its wheels any comments, maybe even buy a set of scrapper wheels/tyres so spend important time looking on E-Bay. I dont think that it will get runs out of the village as its too much faffing to get it out for a 5 mile run to the next supermarket.