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Whose responsibility is it to pay for DD's Car insurance mot etc

67 replies

bobs · 19/05/2012 17:28

DH bought DD a car last year - registered in his name with her as the main driver and him as an additional driver. He paid for insurance but now it is coming up for renewal along with tax and MOT - probably a service in there as well - he is refusing to pay for anything, saying that she should. she is just doing A Levels and has a part time pub job, but with the best will in the world, she cannot afford to pay it all - probably in the region of up to £1000 total She is paying for petrol already.
I guess she would be at fault if found driving w/o an MOT or insurance, but is it legally DH's responsibility to pay, and if it just sits in the drive surely he would still be responsible in some way. I know he could fill in a SORN to say it is not being driven, tho I can't see him bothering with that

OP posts:
HecateTrivia · 19/05/2012 17:30

Isn't it the owner of the vehicle who is ultimately responsible? Ask the dvla perhaps?

HecateTrivia · 19/05/2012 17:32

for the car, I mean.

I think everyone's responsible for making sure that they are insured to drive whatever car they're driving.

you really should phone dvla or insurance company or something.

Oakmaiden · 19/05/2012 17:32

Who actually owns the car? On the official documents?

The registered keeper of the vehicle is liable for making sure it is correctly taxed or sorn-ed.

Anyone who drives it without it having MOT or insurance could be fined for having done so.

mumblechum1 · 19/05/2012 17:33

If she is found to be driving without insurance she will be prosecuted and banned.

If she can't afford to pay for her insurance and MOT then she'll have to keep it off the road until she can.

Certainly if her dad isn't prepared to pay for it he is under no legal obligation whatsoever to do so.

hiveofbees · 19/05/2012 17:33

She will be responsible if she is caught driving without insurance or MOT. He would be too, but it sounds like there is no risk of that The car doesnt have to be insured or MOT, it can be kept off the road.
The DH will be liable for tax though, so that may spur him onto fill out a SORN.

Oakmaiden · 19/05/2012 17:34

And I agree (a bit) with your husband - if your daughter wants to drive the car she should be paying for at least some of the upkeep. Although with insurance the way it is I can quite see she might not be able to pay it all.

LunaticFringe · 19/05/2012 17:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OhNoMyFanjo · 19/05/2012 17:36

Tell her sell it and go on holiday and piss it all away. Really she has tge rest of her life to worry about bills.

OhNoMyFanjo · 19/05/2012 17:37

Ps her dad might be more interested if he really thought she was going to do that.

bobs · 19/05/2012 17:41

DH is the registered keeper, and DD does pay for petrol. I agree in principle that she should contribute if she can.
My understanding is that tax has to be paid whatever, MOT doesn't as long as a SORN is filled in, and insurance doesn't as long as it isn't driven (& if it's nicked that's tough!!!)

OP posts:
bobs · 19/05/2012 17:42

Ha - she can't sell it if it's in his name - think that's why he did it - to keep control!!!

OP posts:
OhNoMyFanjo · 19/05/2012 17:42

Isnt continuos insurance in now or about too?

bobs · 19/05/2012 17:45

???????

OP posts:
hiveofbees · 19/05/2012 17:45

Tax isnt needed if the vehicle is SORN.

AmberLeaf · 19/05/2012 17:45

Why did he buy it for her knowing she wouldnt be in a position to finance its upkeep?

What does he expect her to do if she cant afford it?

bobs · 19/05/2012 17:48

Just googled it - illegal not to have insurance unless a SORN has been filled in...GOOD.
We are talking though about a man who was happy not to submit tax returns for over 5 yrs and run up fines of over £5000, so a fine here would be a drop in the ocean if he could just win DD up Angry

OP posts:
Seona1973 · 19/05/2012 17:50

what was the point of buying it for her if she cant afford to run it/insure it, etc She is still at school so not able to have a full time job to pay for it. A bit silly to buy it in the first place.

Oakmaiden · 19/05/2012 17:50

Mind you - I did the tax return thing too. Blush

Luckily it turned out quite well for me - they sent lots of threatening letters, so I finally got it sorted out and it turns out they actually owe me money instead. Which is nice. But not at all relevant to the thread....

Hervana · 19/05/2012 17:50

Also the insurance rules changed lat year-the car has to be insured OR the registered keeper (dh) must have completed a sorn, pretty much like the MOT

bobs · 19/05/2012 17:50

I've asked him that Amber Leaf - no reply really. He just likes putting people in situations to wind them up....tosser!

OP posts:
OhNoMyFanjo · 19/05/2012 17:50

Seriously tell her to sell it.

bobs · 19/05/2012 17:52

Ha - good for you Oakmaiden - but did you not bother for over 5 yrs? he knew he didn't owe anything (other than the £5000 fine that is) but still couldn't be bothered.
He chooses to do odd still with his money - gave over £6000 to his son (not mine!) for his drug habit - knowingly!!!

OP posts:
bobs · 19/05/2012 17:53

she can't sell it if she isn't the registered keeper.....can she?????

OP posts:
Hervana · 19/05/2012 17:53

Sorry v late to the party-I see it's already been mentioned.

As I see it DH is responsible to pay for the insurance etc with DD to make a contribution when she can. Trouble is unless he does pay for it (which sounds unlikely) he will not be able to use the car

AmberLeaf · 19/05/2012 17:53

Yeah I agree with OhNoMyFanjo

Sell it and book a girls holiday for her Grin