Best way to freeze ownership of a car ?

Moonpie2 · 7 Jun 2010 at 09:48

Basically, I'm trying to emigrate so I'll be leaving the country for 4 or 5 months.
(hopefully not comming back)
But if the worst comes to the worst and I DO have to come back, I would like my car here waiting for me when I get back so I don't want to sell it outright.

So what's the best way of going about this ?

In my head, I'm thinking of selling it to my sister for £0 and then she can declare it SORN (would she have to insure it ?)

Then if I don't come back, she can sell it legally in her name and send me the cash, or if I do come back, then she can sell it back to me for £0.

I think that might work but I'm not sure !!
Any help ?

InvaderGIR · 7 Jun 2010 at 09:50

Just SORN it.

If you know you're not coming back, tell her to either sell in your name (to keep number of owners down) or if that bothers her, transfer it into her name once she knows you're not going to come back.

As for insurance, so long as it's not on the public highway it should be fine without, although if someone steals it, you're stuffed.

Dogbreath · 7 Jun 2010 at 09:51

You don't have to do anything except SORN it. Your sister can sell it (and continue to SORN it) on your behalf quite legally, though if you think this is likely to happen it would be good idea to sign the V5 (but not date it) before you leave.

5abr3 · 7 Jun 2010 at 09:52

Won't be required to have insurance whilst SORN but being SORN will make prospective buyers be unable to test drive it so if that were to happen then it would need road tax and possibly insurance dependant on the prospective buyers policy or they could get temp cover I would imagine.

Moonpie2 · 7 Jun 2010 at 10:19

Seems like SORN is the answer !!
And then some possible advance signing of forms.

Hmmm..... after some googling though, it seems that the list of places to keep a SORN car are incredibly small

Basically if it's not a garage or driveway then I'm stuffed !!

InvaderGIR · 7 Jun 2010 at 10:22

Yup, it needs to be on private land, ideally your driveway or garage.

SeatIbiza · 7 Jun 2010 at 11:11

Well of course - Statutory Off Road Notice

so you can't just leave it on the street if that's what you were thinking...

Dogbreath · 7 Jun 2010 at 11:14

Moonpie2 said:
Seems like SORN is the answer !!
And then some possible advance signing of forms.

Hmmm..... after some googling though, it seems that the list of places to keep a SORN car are incredibly small
Basically if it's not a garage or driveway then I'm stuffed !!

If it's on land covered by the RTA (i.e. public roads and areas the public and their vehicles have open access to) then it needs to be taxed and insured.