This is about signing that your intention to have a vehicle off or on the road, so when or if ANPR picks you up - or not then they can show intent to drive without.
For example I have a car under SORN and I wish to reMOT and insure and then license. At the moment I have to get insurance for it just to find out if it is going to get an MOT easily (which I expect) then I can obtain the necessary license.
So would it be any different without the need to SORN, well I do have a couple of cars that have no need for SORN, and it is a hassle to remember to SORN, one year three yrs ago it all got in a right old mess and ai had about 18 mths of hassle with DVLA to sort it all out. I was away and I missed the deadlines to re-SORN, it was all highly stressful (although it was a very hard time anyway), I now have all SORN dates, bar one, at the same time which helps a lot, but I still worry every now and again as to when that is due. It all seems over the top. I have no intention to have a car on the road that isn't properly legal, but for years I have to keep telling them that they are off-road. Why can I not declare it off-road and that is it until I tell them otherwise ? If I sell them then that can alert them to the change/s.
This rule has to be for intent confirmation and Gov awareness as to where my cars may be. There is no benefit other than Gov 'rule' that I can see. It also implies mis-trust, they don't trust me to do the right thing.
teabelly wrote:
The main problem with adding basic TP insurance to fuel is fuel theft. Those that drive uninsured are going to be more likely to be the criminal sort that would steal fuel too. If you were going to go down that route then I think you'd have to make sure fuel could only be bought in advance either by the pay at pump or by pre-paying with an assistant.
Ah but theft can be added on, either by the individual or possible Gov arranged with the 3rd Party insurance. I agree that theft is a problem but I can't say that I know that those that might drive un-insured will steal fuel too ?
Some law abiding citizens can find themselves un-insured quite unintentionally too. This one solution fits all can resolve that but it is a difficult problem. With fuel now costing a silly sum no one wants to to it rise at all.
So how to deal with un-insured drivers? (being the core problem). What makes someone who has failed to pay insurance buy it?
Do we all just carry on paying for all those that fail to insure?
What if it was said that; if those that are un-insured crash they have to work (State provided if necessary, or if in work) half of their pay will be taken until they have re-paid the damage done to the other party.
How to expose them - is this worthwhile - probably not - have a Nation-wide open list and 'shame' your neighbours into paying ? I don't see that this will work ...
I'd like to know that I can drive as I am insured, and then just add a list of vehicles for any 'fire & theft' issues.
We have to make those that do not wish to be 'covered' pay for damage they inflict.
teabelly wrote:
The Motor Insurance Bureau already covers uninsured damage and is paid for out of the insurance premiums already paid. It is about £30-£50 a year for each policy. Depending on mileage and fuel economy an extra fuel tax would benefit some and cost others lots more.
I know that we all pay out the £30-50 (£30 I think they say that it is), but how do we make those that won't insure themselves, into insuring or showing financial ability if they have an accident.
I agree too that those that need to travel for low income jobs take a hit here but I did think that a Gov 'card' that allows them to buy the fuel at the cheaper rate (via (with validation from) employers) that would stop all people from being penalised un-necessarily.
teabelly wrote:
You can't keep an uninsured vehicle physically on the road anyway so I don't see what the problem is. If you have a vehicle which is on the road then you have to insure it. If it's not on the road then SORN it. If you don't have any private land to park it on then sell it or insure it. You have to have a vehicle taxed to be physically parked on the road too so it is just rationalising current legislation.
If you happen to live in a property that has no car area, but your car is only temporarily off the road - perhaps it has just run out of it's MOT and you are waiting to take it to the garage for the MOT or for repairs (etc) (not all garages have space to hold your vehicle), then the insurance is out and all of a sudden you have to SORN, but it may only be for a few days or a few weeks. Now I agree that it isn't a massive hassle to go online (although it is easier now than it was a few yrs ago), but when you haven't ever done it before, it is all new and you worry (as it has become so important / expensive) that you have filled in everything correctly and that it is registered properly.
Does SORN prevent un-insured drivers driving - I don't think so - other than it encourages vehicles off the road and I would suspect to those law abiding motorists more than, to those that choose to travel un-insured.