Hi
Just wondered if anyone can help. Had a conversation with a friend who's thinking of buying a car from a private seller. The car currently has a SORN. Is he able to undertake any sort of test drive (legally)?
It's remarkably difficult to find a sensible answer via online search so I wondered if anyone here knew definitively? My instinct is the answer is 'no' but....
Cheers 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

Last edited by D-Man on 10th Jun 2015 8:46 pm. Edited 1 time in total

If it's sorn it's not legal on the road.

That's what I thought....except taking to testing station? 2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

you're meant to have an appointment for that!

Yes.....that's what I meant, sorry....with an appointment. I wasn't trying to suggest a way round it. He was the one arguing he thought he could test drive it and I was pretty certain he couldn't!  2011 SD4 HSE Auto
(Previously 2007 TD4 XS Manual)

Whilst I stand to be corrected; for you to test drive a car, either your insurance should allow you to drive another car (that is not on hire to you) or his insurance should be 'any driver'. If you work on your insurance then I think that it is a must that the said vehicle is insured by the owner.
Insurance would only be valid if the car was 'roadworthy '
So insurance covered, the car must be taxed and where applicable have an MOT.
These days road tax is paid for by the owner and is NOT transferable to the next owner.
.
So for a test drive you would need to take the car on a trailer to private property where said property owner gave permission..
.
So you can only buy untested and have it trailered away to yourchosen destination where you will legalise it.
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I've bought many cars over the years like this; it's up to the buyer to take the risk.
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Hope this helps, rgds from Fred.
. 2010GS Auto ex Celeb, Santorini Black, 2011 facelift , spoiler, spats, mudflaps, LED footwell lamps, Witter detach,
Other cars:-
1958 & 1959 Austin J40 Pedal Cars under restoration (I make many J40 parts)
If you have an Austin J40 or Pathfinder Pedal Car looking for a new home pls PM me.
2009 Meriva

Could it be driven on "trade plates"?

Trade plates are tiny , no way long enough to drive on At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

......and you would need four - one for each wheel  10MY (Sept 09) TD4 HSE Auto in Stornoway Grey (Now Gone)

08 FL2 TD4 SE Manual in Rimini Red (Now Gone)

but if you were to hang the trade plates on the car then you would need to tell your insurance company as it could be classed as a modification, same if you stick the plates on as they don't like stickers on cars

back on the OP questions, the vehicle is SORN so is not taxed and not insured for the road. Even if your insurance covers you for any car 3rd party, the car still needs to be insured by the owner.
So no, you cant test drive it on public roads, only on private land (do you have a mate who owns an abandoned airstrip ?)

AIUI driving on trade plates means that the holder of the licence for the trade plates is providing the insurance and fulfilling the excise duty requirements, however, the rules relating to MoTs still apply - i.e. even on trade plates the vehicle can only be driven to/from a test centre for a pre-booked appointment (or, under certain circumstances, by someone repairing/testing the vehicle for MoT).

In the absence of trade plates I believe, as said above, that the car must be insured by the owner even if the person driving it has insurance which covers vehicles not owned by him.

So the answer appears to be 'no' however you look at it - unless perhaps the test drive is to an MoT test centre and the insurance requirements are somehow met!

It sounds like buying a SORN'd car is more bother than I'd be prepared to take. Catch 22 seems to be in charge. ...

Be true to yourself. That way happiness lies...

guess it depends on how much your friend wants the car.

You could take the (illegal) route of test driving it very carefully and pray nothing goes wrong.
Or if the price is cheap enough then does it start ok, move backwards/forwards on the drive, appear to be in good condition based on any receipts or history and what the seller is like (nice looked after house? decent area? etc etc)

Is it a make/model of car that is plentiful on the used market? if so walk away and find another (maybe more expensive but at least you can test drive it)

These days I personally would not buy from a private seller, unless it was somebody I knew/recommended by a friend. Too many rip off merchants out there.

book a local MOT online and print the confirmation off - test drive the car with this in your back pocket - no need to even show up for the appointment.

Stupid rules always have a workaround lol!

^^^^^^^^

Insurance?