A warning has been issued to drivers to check the status of their car to avoid facing a huge fine.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is due to rise in line with inflation for petrol and diesel cars next month. This means the rate is due to surge for a typical first car model by 46% from £130 to £190 - as Wales Online reports.
VED is a tax paid on most vehicles to be used on public roads. During the pandemic, many motorists declared their vehicles as Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) due to home working and lockdowns reducing the ability to commute or venture far.
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The number of cars with SORN status peaked at 3,071,000 in the last quarter of 2020 as the UK entered a winter lockdown, an increase of 9% more cars declared out of use compared to the same period in 2019. However, figures from Veygo by Admiral has warned that the number of SORN vehicles has still not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
The CEO from the Temporary insurance provider has urged drivers not to cut corners to save cash, and to check the rules around SORN if they are getting back on the road to avoid unexpected fines.
James Armstrong said: “The cost of running a car is going up, which is putting pressure on people who are strapped for cash. So much so that many people are still declaring their cars as SORN, and this may be so they can avoid paying car tax.
“SORN status might seem like an appealing way to save money, but if you are still driving your car when it’s meant to be off the road you could land yourself with a £2,500 fine. This could also land you with an IN10 conviction for driving without insurance. While paying car tax is unavoidable, if you’re not using your car very often you could make savings by taking out temporary car insurance for as little as one hour.
“Just remember that when you’re trying to save cash, be careful not to cut corners that could land you with substantial fines and leave you even more out of pocket.”
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