Need to move a car with a SORN. Whats the best way?

PapaLazaru · 25 Mar 2013 at 19:00

Basically I have moved, but my car is still in my previous house's private car park. Now I need to move it about 15 miles this weekend as I have told my old neighbours it will be gone. It has no tax or MOT and is currently off-road with the DVLA. I am moving it to a private drive.

Am I right in thinking I can book it in for an MOT, get a day's insurance on it and take it for an MOT near to where I want to move it to? I cannot get road tax without an MOT and to be honest, I just want to get an MOT and then put it up for sale. Do I need to tell the DVLA I am moving it and can I still take it back to this private drive it if fails?

My car is becoming a massive pain as I cannot move it to my new place as I have no drive and without an MOT, it will be worth a lot less.

Cheers.

Fuzz · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:16

Flat bed, spectacle lift or good old tow rope

Biohazard · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:17

Pull it with a horse.

ChrisD. · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:27

Trailer.

Makhaira · 25 Mar 2013 at 20:56

The Gov website seems to be strangely silent on this (although maybe my Google-fu is getting weak). I'd suggest that the common view is that if you're going to a pre-booked MOT then you'll probably be fine. The cautious view (my view!) would be that unless you can find a formal statement somewhere that it's fine, stick it on a trailer.

Skeeter · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:05

You can't tow it with a rope, it needs to be taxed for that.

If you book an MOT, you can drive it there without tax providing its insured. You can then drive it from there to a single place of repair, or home, so to your new place.

It needs to be a pre-booked MOT.

Dogbreath · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:06

You are fine taking it to a prearranged MOT on SORN and back, or to a place to carry out repairs. Unless the MOT tester thinks it's too dangerous to be on the road of course

https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q374.htm

-westy- · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:30

Do you have breakdown cover? Get it recovered to your new address.

PapaLazaru · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:38

-westy- said:
Do you have breakdown cover? Get it recovered to your new address.

I do, but it is not technically broken. It just has a flat battery and some flat-ish tyres.

Well in that case I shall book it in for an MOT, jump start it, re-inflate the tyres (got a 12v pump thing), drive it (quickly to help with possible emisions problems) to the garage, get an MOT and regardless of whether it passes, drive it back to this private drive. It is a friends garage as well though I do not want to broach the subject of booking it in, then cancelling at the last minute en-route (to the private drive).

£24 to insure for one day and a full priced MOT to move a car 15 miles which is worth about a grand (with an MOT).

Pain in the derriere. Got half a mind to sell it as seen.

-westy- · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:40

PapaLazaru said:
Well in that case I shall book it in for an MOT, jump start it, re-inflate the tyres (got a 12v pump thing), drive it (quickly to help with possible emisions problems) to the garage, get an MOT and regardless of whether it passes, drive it back to this private drive. It is a friends garage as well though I do not want to broach the subject of booking it in, then cancelling at the last minute en-route (to the private drive).

£24 to insure for one day and a full priced MOT to move a car 15 miles which is worth about a grand (with an MOT).

Pain in the derriere. Got half a mind to sell it as seen.

The car would be worth a lot more with an MOT though...what car is it?

PapaLazaru · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:42

-westy- said:
The car would be worth a lot more with an MOT though...what car is it?

It is probably worth a grand with an MOT. Probably half without, I would imagine. It is a 2001 VW Golf with 70k on the clock. It is in immaculate condition (once I clean it up). Had it from new.

-westy- · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:43

PapaLazaru said:
It is probably worth a grand with an MOT. Probably half without, I would imagine. It is a 2001 VW Golf with 70k on the clock. It is in immaculate condition (once I clean it up). Had it from new.

Definitely worth putting in for an MOT then - you never know, it might pass

PapaLazaru · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:45

-westy- said:
Definitely worth putting in for an MOT then - you never know, it might pass

It has never failed so far. My only concern would be the emissions after it not having been driven properly since October. The battery is knackered as well now but it starts first time everytime I have jump started it, which is about 3 times.

-westy- · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:51

PapaLazaru said:
It has never failed so far. My only concern would be the emissions after it not having been driven properly since October. The battery is knackered as well now but it starts first time everytime I have jump started it, which is about 3 times.

Just take it the long way around to the MOT, give it a good thrashing to get the catalytic converter nice and hot, give it a good clear out

PapaLazaru · 25 Mar 2013 at 21:53

Yeah that is what I will do. Hopefully it will pass so I can clean it up and get rid of it, though if I manage to blag some private garage space will just keep it until I need it again.