Did you know that in this years budget, delivered to the UK Parliament in March by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that an extra year of Vehicle Duty (VED) exemption was announced for classic vehicles?
We didn’t!
The announcement means that from April 2014, vehicles manufactured before January 1974 will join the exemption from the previous VED exemption for vehicles built before 1st January 1973.
A small saving as regards the cost of VED for everyday motorcycling and a bigger saving for those with classic motorcycle collections who run them on the road.
Those a little longer in the tooth may remember the 25-year rolling scale of VED exemption – before it was abandoned in 1997 – if this rolling scale was still in place, then right now vehicles pre 1988 would be exempt!
But as they say, every little helps, providing the price of a second-hand 1974 motorcycle doesn’t increase.
However you still need to apply for a tax disc and display the ‘nil value disc’ on your vehicle, even if you don’t need to pay VED.
Then again as winter is starting to take a grip riders may be putting their bikes away for winter or putting them “off-road” to start that winter project.
Therefore if your bike is still taxed then you will need to have a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) in force.
When to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)
Every vehicle registered in Northern Ireland (NI) must be taxed if used or kept on a public road. If not it could be wheel clamped or removed. If the vehicle is kept off-road it must either be taxed or have a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) in force.
When SORN is needed
Make a SORN:
if your vehicle is being kept off the road due to repair or MOT failure or isn’t being used
if you’re not renewing your tax disc and you’re keeping the vehicle off-road
if you’re applying for a refund and keeping the vehicle off the road
every 12 months if you continue to keep your vehicle off the road
in advance if your vehicle is to be kept off the road in Northern Ireland when you’re abroad
if you buy an untaxed vehicle and do not tax it
Original Source – NI Direct Government Services
Note this text in the information, “every 12 months if you continue to keep your vehicle off the road” .
In 2011 the DfT (Department for Transport) in GB announced that, “Drivers are to be released from reams of red tape currently required by government.” part of that announcement included, “Improving the regulation surrounding the notification process for vehicles that are not in use on the road (Statutory Off Road Notification or SORN) – once drivers have notified the DVLA that their vehicle is SORN, they will no longer have the burden of annual SORN renewal.”
In other words when you SORN a vehicle you will no longer have to “renew” SORN every year, you will only have to unSORN a vehicle if you put it back on the road.
However we suspect that this may be introduced when the VED exemption is extended next year and we would assume that the new SORN rule would also be applicable in Northern Ireland.
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