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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do we report this car?

76 replies

MacAndCheeseyPlease · 13/04/2023 17:41

Trying to be as neutral as possible here. Next door neighbours have a car that they park terribly. They regularly park across our drive, sometimes leave it in the middle of the road (when they can’t get parked outside their house) and totally block the street while unloading shopping/work stuff etc. They seem nice enough when I see them, but they’re inherently selfish with their actions- loud music, dogs barking all night etc. A friend visited last week who is a mechanic and mentioned the car has a clear issue that makes it illegal to drive until it’s fixed. We had a check when we got in, and discovered the car is SORN and has been for several years. It has no valid MOT either. Now my issue is that this means it’s not insured either, and they regularly drive it. So, do I report? On one hand, I don’t want to dob them in just for the sake of it, especially since I’m not keen on them and that might effect my judgement. But on the other, they must know they shouldn’t be driving it. I’m worried if they hit my car/house then they obviously won’t be admitting it because they shouldn’t be driving. I’ve asked a few friends and everyone seems to have a different opinion so I’m asking random strangers for their judgement

YANBU- it shouldn’t be on the road, contact DVLA
YABU- give them a break and keep your nose out

OP posts:
Songbird54321 · 13/04/2023 18:03

My insurance company checked I had a valid mot when I took out my policy so I'd say it matters.
Also, I think people underestimate how dangerous driving actually is day to day. Chances are most people will be affected by a traffic accident one way or another so if anything increases that risk even more then it's surely important.
I would report, it's so irresponsible to be driving round in an unroadworthy car.

EarthwormJane · 13/04/2023 18:05

amylou8 · 13/04/2023 18:00

Yes it does. It doesn't stop you taking out an insurance policy, but there will be there will be T&C's in the policy that a the vehicle must have valid tax and MOT. The policy would be invalid, and that is the offence complete.

Show quote history

No it doesn't, in fact there is an allowance in law that specifically states that it is perfectly legal to drive a car that has no mot or ved to a prebooked mot test as long as it has insurance.

If the insurance was automatically void on cars without mot or tax, then you wouldn't be able to drive to a prebooked mot.

Emmamoo89 · 13/04/2023 18:06

Yes report it

AAAAABBBBBCCCCC · 13/04/2023 18:09

I don't believe that a mechanic came over and told you something about the car, which them promoted you to check online.

You're just a nosey beggar with plenty of free time on your hands.

Why are people so bloody weird?!

Sorryyoufeelthatway · 13/04/2023 18:12

The car is dangerous and could cause an accident. Report it!

rumpsteak · 13/04/2023 18:15

I'd definitely report it.

EarthwormJane · 13/04/2023 18:17

Songbird54321 · 13/04/2023 18:03

My insurance company checked I had a valid mot when I took out my policy so I'd say it matters.
Also, I think people underestimate how dangerous driving actually is day to day. Chances are most people will be affected by a traffic accident one way or another so if anything increases that risk even more then it's surely important.
I would report, it's so irresponsible to be driving round in an unroadworthy car.

Of course it matters to an insurance company. They will value your car to be worth a lot less without an mot than with, in the event that they had to pay out.

DanaScully53 · 13/04/2023 18:18

Another one here saying report it.

XVII · 13/04/2023 18:22

I think insurance can be valid without an mot as long as the car is road worthy.
however if the policy specifically states the car must have a valid mot then it will be invalidated.
even so they would probably pay out 3rd party claims and then chase the owner.
v unlikely in this case the car is insured.
I’d report

junglejane66 · 13/04/2023 18:29

drpet49 · 13/04/2023 17:46

But it does mean that it is not road worthy and should not be driven or parked on the public highway.

Absolutely report them OP.

Show quote history

There are plenty of cars with an MOT that aren't road worthy, just because it doesn't have an MOT doesn't make it unroad worthy..
If the police stopped you for not having an MOT and the vehicle looked road worthy the most they could do is issue a fine of £100 and no points. If they stop you and there is a clear issue with the car then you're in trouble
They'd use the black of f MOT to stop you then see what else is wrong and I'd agree if the car didn't have MOT or tax there will be other issues as well

junglejane66 · 13/04/2023 18:31

XVII · 13/04/2023 18:22

I think insurance can be valid without an mot as long as the car is road worthy.
however if the policy specifically states the car must have a valid mot then it will be invalidated.
even so they would probably pay out 3rd party claims and then chase the owner.
v unlikely in this case the car is insured.
I’d report

I agree.

Plus If you did have insurance then DVLA will write to you to say the car isn't taxed, if you ignore they'll clamp it

Nookable · 13/04/2023 18:43

MacAndCheeseyPlease · 13/04/2023 17:52

I thought the fact it was being driven while SORN would invalidate the insurance?

That wouldn't affect you though. There are laws in place that mean insurers still have a legal responsibility to third parties even if their policy holder has broken the terms of the policy.

So if for example a drunk driver hit someone their insurer would not cover their vehicle but would cover third parties damage. The insurer can then attempt to recover these costs from their policy holder.

hookiewookie29 · 13/04/2023 18:50

EarthwormJane · 13/04/2023 17:45

Having no mot and/or no tax does not mean that it is uninsured

No but it would probably invalidate the insurance.

WonderingWanda · 13/04/2023 18:51

We've had untaxed vehicles dumped on our street in the past and have reported them. The normally tow them away.

Maple2023 · 13/04/2023 18:54

AAAAABBBBBCCCCC · 13/04/2023 18:09

I don't believe that a mechanic came over and told you something about the car, which them promoted you to check online.

You're just a nosey beggar with plenty of free time on your hands.

Why are people so bloody weird?!

I can see how it would happen
My mechanic came to pick my car up, walked past my neighbours mouldy car and said "hope that's off the road still because.." and then said a few faults
(It is actually mouldy, hasn't moved for over three years now)

Soapyspuds · 13/04/2023 18:57

Hell yes.

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 13/04/2023 18:59

Report; its illegal and its pissing you off.

CarInsuranceIssue · 13/04/2023 19:00

EarthwormJane · 13/04/2023 17:45

Having no mot and/or no tax does not mean that it is uninsured

It’s only insured subject to it being taxed and MOT’ed. insurer will pay out to a 3rd party as RTA insurer or Art 75 but will look to the insured to repay this. And they are increasingly doing this for minor policy breaches. This would be viewed as a major breach.

PinkiOcelot · 13/04/2023 19:01

Definitely report

Newnamefor23 · 13/04/2023 19:01

You can check if it’s insured or not. askMID.com

You have to say its yours - but who’s checking. It just gives a Yes or No. No policy details etc.

Useful to check your own. Ours was insured - but database says it wasn’t. Car on point of being impounded by police.

Insurance company’s fault - they didn’t update their records. It cost them.

Chucknee · 13/04/2023 19:13

Report it

BeetleBailey · 13/04/2023 19:15

SORN

Statutory Off Road Notification

It's on the road

Report them now

Spiderboy · 13/04/2023 19:16

If a neighbour was pissing me off with their selfish parking then yes I would be petty enough to report them

cansu · 13/04/2023 19:18

I would not have the interest in other people's business that you have. I suppose you could report it. I would imagine your neighbour might suspect you are responsible because who, other than a nosey neighbour, would bother?

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