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Classic cars are wonderful in summer – driving with the top down on a sunny day is heaven.
But classic cars in winter are another matter, and many people choose to save them for the coldest and harshest months.
Before winter hits, we look at legal off-road notices (SORNs) for classic cars to help you determine if officially taking them off the road is the best idea.
What does SORN entail, how to prepare your classic and will it save you money? Here is our guide to older engines.
SORN (Off Road Legal Notification) is when you notify the DVLA that your car is not currently in use and that you are leaving the road.
What is SORN and how to register your car as SORN?
SORN (Off Road Legal Notification) is when you notify the DVLA that your car is not currently in use and that you are taking it off the road.
You can register your car as SORN via the DVLA website or by phone or mail. It’s free and you can choose to register as SORN immediately or from a designated date.
For your car to be legally SORN, it must be parked off the road and not driven; Otherwise you may be fined up to £2,500.
Drivers will receive a refund for the full months of taxes remaining (if registered after January 1, 1984) and will be able to cancel their car insurance to save more money.
For your car to be legally SORN, it must be parked off the road and not driven; Otherwise you may be fined up to £2,500.
Why take your classic car as SORN?
Advantages
Classic cars are often only driven during certain times of the year, usually during the spring and summer months, with more pleasant weather.
When the weather is bad and you are unlikely to take your car out regularly, it makes sense to store it in the garage to protect it.
This can also give you the perfect opportunity to spend time working on it and restoring it, without having to pay for it to be on the road at the same time.
Taking your classic car off the road during the winter can save you money. By declaring your car as SORN you do not have to pay insurance or fuel.
Canceling your insurance will allow you to get a refund for the months you won’t be driving, although you may incur cancellation fees.
When you want to drive it again in the warmer months, all you need to do is tax and insure it again and you’ll be back on the road.
Cons
While storing a classic car can keep the body in pristine condition, mechanically classic cars perform better with regular use, so declaring them SORN and storing them can create mechanical or electrical problems: problems with the engine, battery, and tires They are common and must be solved. it worked.
Depending on where you keep your classic SORN, local wildlife may visit it. Rodents can take up residence and nest in the warm corners of classic cars and damage the wiring or even the upholstery.
An obvious disadvantage is that you cannot drive your car, or you will face prosecution and a £2,500 fine if you are caught driving illegally. To get back on the road, you will have to tax and insure the car, so the spontaneity of getting into your classic for a spin on a sunny day will be over.
If something happens to your car and it is not insured while you are SORN, then you could end up with a huge bill. Even worse if it is stolen!
One option to address this is to take out inactivity insurance, but that could result in potential savings for SORN.
Many insurance companies offer backup insurance that will cover your car while it is in storage against damage (whether accidental or malicious), fire, lightning and explosion, theft or attempted theft.
What is immobilized insurance?
Your classic could be damaged while undergoing restoration, you just want to store or transport it, and idle insurance is a very good way to protect your car and your investment.
Many insurance companies offer dormant insurance that will cover your car against damage (whether accidental or malicious), fire, lightning and explosion, theft or attempted theft.
This insurance also covers you while in transit, to and from the garage or even at exhibitions.
Greg Butherway, underwriter at Heritage Classic Car Insurance, commented: ‘Simply declaring your classic car as SORN does not offer you any protection.
‘At a minimum, you should consider immobilization insurance, but only if you know your vehicle will be off the road for an extended period, such as for restoration work or long-term maintenance. This way you will be covered for accidental damage, fire and theft.
If you’re going to store your classic car for the winter, how should you store it?
Dry storage and cleaning.
It is extremely important to ensure that your car is stored in a safe and dry place. It can be a garage or a specialized warehouse.
A dehumidified, ventilated, and climate-controlled space is ideal because even if your car is indoors, it is still exposed to the elements and dirt and moisture can cause rust.
Also remember to clean your car before storing it to make sure it is free of material that could cause rust. Keep a cover for your car even if you are going to store it too.
Fuel and lubricant tank.
Some people recommend filling the fuel and adding a stabilizer product to prevent corrosion, oxidation and keep the fuel in good condition.
Others, including the RAC, say it’s fine to empty the tank and then add some fuel before taking the car out of storage.
Our advice is to consult a workshop specialized in your brand to check what is best for your particular model.
And don’t forget to lubricate and treat the car parts either: treat the rubber gaskets to prevent cracking and the hinges to prevent damage.
Don’t store your car like this! If your classic is SORN, make sure you store it in a well-ventilated space with a cover and that nothing touches it, as it can damage the paint or bodywork and increase the chance of rust.
Shoe it
If you have cars stored for months, then you need to shimmy them; Remove the parking brake and place chocks or wooden blocks on each wheel to prevent it from moving. Keeping the parking brake on can damage the brakes.
tires and battery
To ensure that your classic’s tires are not damaged by the weight of the car that has been on them for months, remove the wheels or balance them on axle stands. This will let the air out and reduce the pressure on the rubber.
Be sure to disconnect the battery to prevent it from discharging, and then slowly charge it when you want to reconnect it.
Service
In an ideal world, you’d take your classic in for a service before putting it away, but at least change the oil yourself if you’re not taking it in for service. And you would remove the spark plugs.
The exact savings depend on many factors, but if you don’t insure your car on the road, you can save a lot of money on insurance and even if you decide to take out insurance, it is usually much cheaper than regular insurance.
Will I really save money by buying a SORN classic?
This is analyzed on a case by case basis.
As classic cars are exempt from road tax (if built before 1 January 1984), owning a SORN classic won’t save you any money, but you will be able to save on insurance and bills, as well as fuel.
Obviously, if you don’t insure your car on the road, you can save a lot of money on insurance and even if you decide to take out insurance, it is usually much cheaper than regular insurance.
The booking fee can be as little as £80 a year.
By not driving your car you are saving fuel; Fuel has been at a three-year high, filling a tank costs up to £100 and classic cars are not fuel efficient, so you could save hundreds of pounds by not driving your car for a period of months.
Even if you plan to repair or restore your car during this period, by taking it off the road, you may be able to combat some of that expense by taking it off the road.
To calculate savings, get insurance quotes, see how much you can save compared to regular insurance, add fuel savings, and then deduct storage costs to get a ballpark.
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