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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU garage moving an untaxed vehicle I’m buying

21 replies

Neome · 28/04/2021 07:22

I’m buying a used car which is currently SORNed on the owner’s drive. It’s been looked over by a mechanic who said it’s a good vehicle but needs a repair and full service.

The mechanic is offering to collect the vehicle this evening after all the paperwork and money is sorted.

I don’t want to tax or insure it until 1st May for obvious reasons.

AIBU?

OP posts:

CovidCorvid · 28/04/2021 07:24

So you either pay extra to have it taken on a tow truck of some sort. Or ask the seller if it can stay on his drive until 1st of may and don’t have the mechanic pick it up till then. 🤷‍♀️

Keepingitreal14 · 28/04/2021 07:24

Does the mechanic has business insurance covering all cars? If yes then fine, if not then you need to insure from today.
Again unless her has business tax plates (like the ones used to test drive vehicles) then you need to tax it.

What happens if the car gets stollen between now and 1st May?

Nitgel · 28/04/2021 07:27

Mmm stollen

Burnt0utMum · 28/04/2021 07:28

SORN doesn't transfer to the new keeper so technically you'd have to sorn it yourself for the few days before you tax it

PrelovedWithValue · 28/04/2021 07:33

So you don't own it yet?

I would be surprised if the owner was okay with it going before you buy it tbh.

PrelovedWithValue · 28/04/2021 07:34

Ignore me!

mum11970 · 28/04/2021 07:36

The garage will have trade plates to move it and traders’ insurance.

Chanjer · 28/04/2021 07:42

Book it in for an MOT at the garage it's going to?

Earlybirdmissedtheworm · 28/04/2021 07:44

As long as its going for a booked mot it can travel without a valid mot but if the repair needed will fail the mot I'm not sure what happens.
I would assume getting the repair done would be ok too but just check that.

mum11970 · 28/04/2021 07:51

It doesn’t need to be booked in for an MOT if the mechanic has trade plates. Your mechanic will tell you if you ask him, he will not be driving your car illegally as he would be liable, not you.

daseychain · 28/04/2021 07:55

So you're paying for repair and service of a car you don't have possession of?

What is to stop the seller cancelling the sale and selling the car on with the work done?

Get it repaired after you've taken possession of it.

Badbadbunny · 28/04/2021 07:59

@mum11970

The garage will have trade plates to move it and traders’ insurance.

If it's a proper firm, yes. But the OP just said "mechanic" so sounds more of a friend doing moonlighters, in which case, they wouldn't have insurance nor trade plates.

BarbaraofSeville · 28/04/2021 08:01

How much is a month's tax? I know it seems like a waste for a few days, but you're worrying about around a tenner, so if any workarounds are likely to cause inconvenience or extra expense you might as well just pay it.

If the car is yours, you probably want to insure it, because if anything happens to it, you've potentially lost all your money.

6Helen7 · 28/04/2021 08:04

If you're buying the car today then you need to tax and insure it, or SORN it from today.

LentilShanklet · 28/04/2021 08:06

Sorry for being dim, but what are the "obvious" reasons to not tax/insure until the 1st of May?

marchez · 28/04/2021 08:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Quitelikeacatslife · 28/04/2021 08:11

We have a car on SORN but I still insure it. Can only take it on the road to go to get MOT , can't tax it until get MOT. I don't know about trade plates. Once you own car I'd get insure it and get it MOT and then tax, a few days isn't going to cost you much more. Or don't buy it until 1st May

RevolutionRadio · 28/04/2021 08:13

@LentilShanklet

Sorry for being dim, but what are the "obvious" reasons to not tax/insure until the 1st of May?

For tax she would have to pay the full month's cost to cover the next few days.

Not sure about insurance.

bigbluebus · 28/04/2021 08:27

You either need to use a garage with trade plates or pay for it to be collected on a car transporter/trailer. The latter will probably cost more than 1 month's wasted road tax unless your mechanic has one he can use. You still need to insure the vehicle once you own it incase it is stolen/damaged/goes on fire. I don't think there's any advantage/disadvantage to not insuring it as soon as you take ownership - insurance doesn't run from 1st of month like road tax.

Original poster

Neome · 28/04/2021 13:53

Thank you, all comments much appreciated!

I was able to ask the right questions because of this thread.

The car will be collected by a proper garage who are legally able to and know it is untaxed.

I am mentally prepared to pay the extra month Road Tax if necessary but equally prepared to SORN for a few days if possible.

All I need to do is figure out the insurance...

OP posts:

Original poster

Neome · 28/04/2021 13:56

Figure out as in possibly change insurer, possibly need 2 car policy temporarily.

OP posts:

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