Road Tax Suspension
During the current Covid19 crisis Motorhomers and Caravaners who use a dedicated towcar may wish to take advantage of the "Sorn Scheme". This as you maybe aware allows you to register a vehicle as not being currently used on the public highway.ie road tax and the need for insurance is not obligitarry. Considerable savings can be made.How "ethical"do CMC members consider this possible action is, especially in the current national crisis.
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If RT was coming up for renewal then it is easy to do and I don't see why you shouldn't if you cannot use it. If you can Sorn it at any time in the tax year, I wouldn't bother because my RT is very low, only £165p.a. but for some with high RT a 3 month refund could be substantial and worth considering.
peedee
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I don't think ethics particularly come into it. Ultimately we are going to have to pay for this crisis in the form of increased taxation. Personally I am not going to bother, our MH is £265. At only a year old I also don't feel inclined to go adjusting the insurance and having to read all that fine print again.😂 Also it means as soon as this is over and we are permitted to tour again, we will be ready to go.
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Maybe I'm wrong but I thought a vehicle still needed a degree of insurance cover even if SORN'd. 🤔
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Agree re our having to pay for the Coronavirus via the additional or increased taxation. As a rough calculation, and before yesterday's extra support for the self employed, we're all going to have some £11,000 added to our Tax tab. Plus the exisitng pre-crisis tab ...
At this rate, I will need to live until I'm about 120, and to need no more health support, before I can shuffle off this mortal coil, safe in the knowledge that I've paid my tax tab
Steve
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I think you may be wrong TW, but there again, I may well have my knickers in a knot ...
If you declare SORN, your vehicle is off the public road and not being driven. If you cancel the insurance, you *only* lose the insured value of your MH. If something happens that results in a Public Liability claim against you, your household insurance carries cover.
The above is supposition on my part, it seems logical to me [but logic and insurance don't always make easy bed fellows] and I would certainly check with the Insurers [online FAQ?] before taking action.
As an aside, I have now received my Travel Insurance payment after my heart attack. Whilst i was completing the Claim Form, I encountered at least 2 Sections where I was required to confirm that I had no other insurance, such as Bank Account or Household, that provided any form of Medical or Travel Cover, to enable our existing Travel Insurers to seek contributions under these other forms of insurance. This would seem to suggest that the household policy might cover the Public Liability?
But I would check with the MH insurers and get written confirmation before cancelling the policy, including any impact on NCB.
I'd be interested to hear the outcome.
Steve
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Steve, I may well be wrong, as I said, but I do recall some change to the law that meant a vehicle had to be insured at all times. My memory is hazy though.
You make a huge assumption in stating people's household insurance will cover public liability.
It is the norm when making a claim of any sort to declare the risk is not also covered by another insurer.
Have we met on this forum previously - as in a few years ago? 🧼
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Cheers, David. Yep, I was wrong.
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OP, Steve L said he wouldn't apply for SORN because £265 is irrelevant in the context of Coronavirus [IIRC] and that we'll all have to pay extra taxes to meet its cost when the dust settles [not exact quotes, but that was the gist]. I just put a couple of rough figures on the running tab to reinforce Steve L's comment.
Steve
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TW,
We haven't met on this Forum, or any other, to the best of my knowledge and belief. I joined here about 4 weeks ago. Most people who have encountered me tend to remember, if only to avoid a second episode ...
I hope I have not made 'massive assumptions'; I did preface my comments with 'I may well have my knickers in a knot' ... Public Liability Insurance, especially where the policyholder includes cover against Accidental Damage and Cover for Items away from the premises, is pretty much a bog standard provision.
But, to be clear [odious phrase], I admit that I didn't mention Accident Damage or Extended Cover; but, equally, I did say, twice, I think, that I would check with the Insurers before taking any action. In my original post, I also said that 'logic suggests ...', before acknowledging that assuming logic and insurance sit easily, is probably a wee bitty naive! It also explains my final sentence of being interested in the outcome; anything that unknots my knicker elastic is to be welcomed.
And that, M'Lud, concludes the case for the Defence ...
Steve
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Steve, your assumption was that people will have house insurance. Not everyone has.
OK, perhaps we've not met but you sure remind me of someone.🙂
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My tow car is my only vehicle, so remains in use all year round. It was first registered 30th May 2017, and is booked in for service and its first MoT for mid-May. But the service dept, because of COVID-19, is closed until 30th April, with no clear indication whether this might be extended.
Fortunately, the government have announced that all m/cycles, cars and light vans which require an MoT test after March 30th., are being allowed a 6 months extension from their MoT due date. Whether or not this could be further extended will, I suppose, depend upon how the situation develops.
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TW, you didn't finish with 'from my worst nightmares'...
Lest I forget, the ABI has just confirmed that there is no need to notify them if you use your private vehicle to transport goods such as groceries for other people, or you're volunteering to support NHS etc during the crisis. This confirms the Government advice to ABI not to 'wriggle' out of claims by ruling that a change of use had not been declared.
In my defence, M'Lud, I would point out that I did say that the Public Liability cover would come with your household insurance, so it goes without saying [avoid 'what was that ...? joke since I've already used it] that if you don't have a policy, you obviously won't have Public Liability cover
I confess now that I have a Professional Assessment as a 'Total Anal Retentive' after I pointed out that we needed a semi colon in a Care Contract 'for the avoidance of doubt' ... etc etc.
I have tried to lighten up since retirement, but, as I know you will have noticed, my personality drives me back to a 'yes but ...' reply to posts where 'facts' are in dispute. I hope it's not taken personally!
Life is too bizarre to take seriously.
Steve
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Thanks, David.
Another piece of information to squirrel away. Unfortunately, as my brain begins its slow descent towards the scrap heap, I am prone to forgetting where I've stored my nuts ...
Steve
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I know I posted on another thread about covering your Motorhome whilst on SORN but I can't find it so apologies for repeating myself.
Some insurers offer cover for just Fire and Theft risks, i.e. taking away the Liability risk element, if you lay the vehicle up. Your best bet for this insurance is to ask your existing provider.
All Household insurers have a standard exclusion for any mechanically propelled vehicle for the Public Liability aspect of cover. This is to stop them being responsible for motor accidents and claims which should be covered by a motor policy but there are some grey areas, such as quad bikes and even sit on lawn mowers. Best to check with your own provider.
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