Tax & SORN

[C8PPO]

I'm sure that (a) I know the answer to this question and (b) it will have been asked a thousand times before, but:

I bought a bike middle of December which had been laid up in a shed for ages. Bike was first registered in 1978. The tax disc on the bike expired back in 2006.

I got it MOTd recently and want to tax it. However, when taxing online, it comes up with a warning about a gap in licensing (tax) and that "this may be followed up".

I presume that I was supposed to declare SORN when I bought? Never crossed my mind tbh. On the basis that I've only had it 2.5 months, I guess that any liability if DVLA break my door down one morning will be limited to that period?

Also, I wanted to tax it from 1 March, i.e. Monday, and the online system doesn't give me that option. Am I best to tax it today, go to a Post Office and tax it from Monday (can I do that?), or tax it online on Monday?

Alternatively I guess I could claim asylum and thus remove all personal liability and do what I like.......

[kwk]

I assume that the previous RO dated and signed the V5 on the date that you bought it and sent it off to the DVLA. If that is not the case then they could chase you for the whole untaxed period.

[C8PPO]

Yes, as above. I have the V5 and it records my ownership as starting on 13 Dec 09.

[kwk]

In that case they will only look at the date you became the RO. You are right, it should have been SORN'd.

[ojc88]

Did you have a fine or anything?

I didn't sorn mine for a year, paid the outstanding tax but waiting for more consequences?