Moving my SORNd van

[GoldenVision]

My van is currently SORNd, parked on our drive. I have to move it for a few hours whilst some work is done (on the drive).

Ours is (unfortunately) a private road, and I was wondering if anyone knows the legality of parking there without tax?

I would probably risk it anyway as its a dead-end road and a little out of the way. But I'd still be interested to know if I was breaking the law

 

[Grummyb]

I'm no legal expert but if it's on the highway it has to be taxed yhat bit i do know and im guessing if its on private land it doesn't need to be taxed but I'm not sure a road can be classed as private unless it's gated to stop members of the public gaining access

 

[TheMobileWanderer]

If the road is private and, therefore, not maintained at public expense, it's as private as your driveway. If it were to need resurfaced, who would pay? If private individuals, then it us a private road.

 

[Orion]

Is the road adopted by the local highways authority? If not then it is private land - even if the ownership is unknown- and you can park your untaxed vehicle on it as you would on your driveway.

 

[meanders]

Private roads and car parks when the public has access are covered by the Road Traffic Act. How that affects it's taxation I don't know.

Your biggest risk is the local busybody I would suggest.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Just tax it for a month and take it for a nice run out not worth the worry for 30 quid

 

[Wh05apk]

I think if it's a road to which the public have access, such as private car parks etc then it must be meet all requirements, such as insurance etc and also the driver must be legal as well, otherwise police would not be able to pull drunk drivers in car parks etc.
The chance of getting caught I think would be slim, but......

 

[PlacidoD]

Just tax it for a month and take it for a nice run out not worth the worry for 30 quid

Surely you are going to use it and therefore will need to tax it before the end of April?

 

[Orion]

Private roads and car parks when the public has access are covered by the Road Traffic Act. How that affects it's taxation I don't know.

I think the key element is that the public must have full access, and then parts of the RTA may apply. We have a sign at the entrance stating it is a private road, maintained at residents expense, and not a public right of way.

Postmen, utility workers, emergency services, etc. have an implied right of access to private property which is usually never questioned for good reason, but which can be withdrawn in writing - which is handy to keep the TV licensing idiots away.

 

[Winger]

If it’s only for a couple of hours you could remove the number plates

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bobby dazzler]

Surely you are going to use it and therefore will need to tax it before the end of April?

I suppose it depends when he's having the work done ?.

 

[Bobby dazzler]

If it’s only for a couple of hours you could remove the number plates

Bung a neighbour a few beers and stick it on there drive

 

[PlacidoD]

I suppose it depends when he's having the work done ?.

So postpone until next Tuesday or cough up. Once fired up I would be inclined to take it for a run anyway even if if on a run to the supermarket to do a shop!

 

[Miggs]

There is a house near us that operates some kind of vehicle related business, not sure what exactly but bottom line is, there is a constant succession of untaxed and un mot'd vehicles parked in our close, sometimes for a week or more.
I have submitted dozens of online reports and not once has plod ever responded.
Don't worry about it, police are not interested.

 

[David and Sally]

If it’s only for a couple of hours you could remove the number plates

The VIN plate would still show and that would be adding another offence.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Nanniemate]

You would be very unlucky of the dvla mobile unit turned up however
My father got done moved car put of garden parked on road put van in garden
Instead of doing it on line was going to walk to post office
He never made it they came round that morning
He asked had the car been reported she said no it was the assigned area for that day
Unfortunate but the car should have stayed in the garden and the van onbthe road
She didn't clamp it but waited until father walked to post office and taxed it .
He still got fined

 

[Lenny HB]

Ours is a private road and has access to a public recreation ground. A few years ago DVLA clamped a few cars in the road that weren't taxed, they had to come back and remove the clamps as it is a private road.

 

[Driventemple]

My van is currently SORNd, parked on our drive. I have to move it for a few hours whilst some work is done (on the drive).

We too live on a 'Private' Road. Often move the 'van on and off our drive without problems. Got to be some advantage to having to lug the bins out of the road every other week

 

[nicholsong]

Ours is a private road and has access to a public recreation ground. A few years ago DVLA clamped a few cars in the road that weren't taxed, they had to come back and remove the clamps as it is a private road.

I think this is why the police are not interested in untaxed vehicles per se, because they see it as a revenue problem and are happy to leave it to DVLA. Although, they will add the charge to other crimes which they are charging.

Taxed or untaxed does not do harm to the public, only the Revenue, whereas uninsured does affect the public in an accident. The police are quite rightly there for the protection of the public, not the revenue.

 

[GoldenVision]

Thanks for all the replies. Going to risk it - just a couple of hours. The neighbours are friendly!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[GoldenVision]

So, all went well!

 

[Coolcats]

My van is currently SORNd, parked on our drive. I have to move it for a few hours whilst some work is done (on the drive).

Ours is (unfortunately) a private road, and I was wondering if anyone knows the legality of parking there without tax?

I would probably risk it anyway as its a dead-end road and a little out of the way. But I'd still be interested to know if I was breaking the law

probably fine, you can take a sorned vehicle on the public road for repairs and MOT so why not repairs to your drive

 

[Lenny HB]

probably fine, you can take a sorned vehicle on the public road for repairs and MOT so why not repairs to your drive

A bit late now but the obvious would have been to book an MOT move the van then cancel and repeat using a different mot station to move the van back.

 

[PlacidoD]

probably fine, you can take a sorned vehicle on the public road for repairs and MOT so why not repairs to your drive

or your house, or the back garden or when expecting delivery of large white goods? I would like to see you run all of those by DVLA!!! The essential difference is that they do not relate the the vehicle.

P.S. Good idea Lenny but would it work if the MOT is current?

 

[Nanniemate]

or your house, or the back garden or when expecting delivery of large white goods? I would like to see you run all of those by DVLA!!! The essential difference is that they do not relate the the vehicle.

P.S. Good idea Lenny but would it work if the MOT is current?

You an book an mot any time for example
The original is August
Book and pass one in December and the year will start from December
It's a way of moving it to a more convenient time

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

Ask a near neighbour if you can park on their drive for a couple of hours while work is carried out

 

[pappajohn]

The VIN plate would still show and that would be adding another offence.

That's easy, if the VIN number is on top of the dash, as most are, just stick a rag over it.
If it's anywhere else it's out of sight.

 

[Coolcats]

or your house, or the back garden or when expecting delivery of large white goods? I would like to see you run all of those by DVLA!!! The essential difference is that they do not relate the the vehicle.

P.S. Good idea Lenny but would it work if the MOT is current?

They do if thats where you store it, over the years I have never had an issue with the DVLA and SORN, an example is a Road/track car's taken back and forth for repair all under SORN never had an issue, Some of those repairs have been 150 mile round trip

So if your driveway collapses due to a burst pipe it's more than reasonable to move the vehicle so the drive can be repaired. The builder is booked in the job is done the vehicle is returned to the drive. You have the receipts and photos to prove why the vehicle had to be moved.

 

[KASPAR]

There seems a lot of overthinking on this thread, as you would with an apprentice; hang it on some sky hooks, job done

 

[PlacidoD]

They do if thats where you store it, over the years I have never had an issue with the DVLA and SORN, an example is a Road/track car's taken back and forth for repair all under SORN never had an issue, Some of those repairs have been 150 mile round trip

So if your driveway collapses due to a burst pipe it's more than reasonable to move the vehicle so the drive can be repaired. The builder is booked in the job is done the vehicle is returned to the drive. You have the receipts and photos to prove why the vehicle had to be moved.

There is a world of difference between an emergency repair following a burst pipe and a planned improvement because you want to have a fancy new driveway laid. The OP does not speak of an emergency. Indeed the time the move took tells us that it was not an emergency.

Plainly, if you are going to take the risk, it would be sensible to document the event (move off and back onto the drive within 24 hours or whatever) so that you have evidence that you observed the law in spirit in case the DVLA turn up. The risks are low but not negligible. If I were the man from the DVLA I would say "Don't do it again but I am taking no action this time."

Are you suggesting that you gave DVLA notice of your activities or that nobody ever challenged you?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}