Millions of petrol and diesel drivers are benefiting from “significant” car tax savings ahead of planned Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) changes in weeks.
Data from experts at Scrap Car Comparison have revealed that a whopping two million cars were put under a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) between January and September last year.
This figure is up more than 52 percent on the numbers in 2022 with more drivers opting to ditch their vehicles as motoring costs rise.
Declaring a car as SORN means it has stopped being used and owners are banned from getting behind the wheel on a public road.
The biggest benefit is drivers do not have to pay VED fees with money even awarded back to motorists who have already paid upfront.
It means drivers rarely using certain cars could make “significant” savings by making the decision to stop driving.
David Kottaun, operations manager at Scrap Car Comparison, said road users were “trying to make their money go further” as costs continue to rise.
He explained: “Motorists have to face many costs when it comes to car ownership, and depending on the age and fuel type of the vehicle, tax can be a significant one.
“Each year, cars may be left un-driven for periods of time for a variety of reasons, but people may still be paying for them during these times.
“The ongoing cost of living crisis means that people are trying to make their money go further, so SORNing can be an easy way to avoid paying tax if your car is stood still.”
Standard VED fees are set to increase from £180 per year to £190 on April 1 due to Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation.
However, some powers of older cars will pay more based on how much pollution their vehicle emits with a six percent rise predicted across the board.
Motorists can SORN for any length of time meaning those unlikely to use their vehicle for just a few months are able to make savings.
This could work well for those working remotely from abroad or even students heading away from home to study at university.
According to Scrap Car Comparison, many motorists believe that getting a car back on the road after a SORN can be difficult. All owners have to do is simply apply for VED as always and pay the fee required to tax the model again.
David added: “Travelling, ill health and the cost of repairs could be a few of many reasons why a car isn’t on the road, so if drivers can relate to any of these situations, it’s worth them considering taking their car off the road temporarily, particularly if they’re fortunate enough to have somewhere to park off the road.
“That way, they can be saving money to spend elsewhere, rather than wasting it on a car that they won’t even be driving during a particular timeframe.”
