Selling a SORN car

So I've recently bought a new car, and the old ones tax and insurance is about to run out.

I've been advertising it for short while already, hoping it would be snapped up before the tax and insurance runs out (it sailed through MOT a month ago).

So now I'll be declaring it SORN, and sods law someone has called up and wants to view at the weekend (tax and insurance expired by then).

I guess my question is... would it put you off buying a car that's SORN? The ad doesn't mention it, mainly because I hoped it would be gone by now.

I considered paying a day's worth of insurance (£25 ish is the best i can find so far) and a month's worth of tax (not sure how much exactly, maybe £15), but since it'll only sell for around £500 - 600 I don't want it to eat into that too if I shouldn't need to.

What do you think? I know under new tax laws he should insure it himself ASAP anyway, but would it put you off? Or shall I just be blunt with him and say he needs to tax and insure before he leaves... IF he buys it. Thoughts?

The buyer would need to tax/insure it straight away anyway, under the new laws vehicle tax is non-transferable. So a SORN isn't likely to make any difference, practically speaking, and so arguably the buyer doesn't actually need to know you don't currently have it taxed since it won't impact the sale in any way.

Yeah I guess that's true. I think I'll just make sure he's aware (if he wants to buy) that that's what he's got to do.

I just have this image of the boys in blue pulling him over as he heads home, intending to do it when he gets home. But that shouldn't become my problem really! I'm more interesting in just selling the thing!

most of the issues will be getting someone to buy a car without being able to test drive it.
I wouldn't buy one under the same circumstances.

I guess in any private sale situation you legally shouldn't be allowing another person to test drive the car as they're not insured (unless you have specific insurance). Luckily we live in a closed residential area I'd be happy for him to do a mini test drive up/down the road if he wants.

I've bought a couple of cars in the past, but never sold one before (as you can probably tell).

Yeah I guess that's true. I think I'll just make sure he's aware (if he wants to buy) that that's what he's got to do.

I just have this image of the boys in blue pulling him over as he heads home, intending to do it when he gets home. But that shouldn't become my problem really! I'm more interesting in just selling the thing!

Punters problem, not yours.
Just make sure you put a date and a time on the receipt you write out as the car will still be on the system as registered to you.

I've sold cars to people that I know full well have driven off without insurance. I once flogged a car that wasn't MOT'd that was just driven away.
Like I said, what the buyer does with their property after they have handed over the cash is down to them...

Sort of… If you know a crime has taken place but don't report it you are technically an accomplice. So this may not be the best approach, although plod will have a tough time proving that you definitely knew a crime had taken place (maybe that driver was taking the car straight down to the MOT centre?).

The purchaser can always rent a tow dolly and tow it off. In the states anyway, towed vehicles don't need tags or insurance. If the purchaser(s) have access to a 'closed area' - like a private industrial park or such - they can 'road test' to their heart's content, as it's not open to the public. There was a court case a few years ago here, where the owner of a parking lot hired someone who was on a 'revoked' license to park cars. Customers were not allowed to enter the lot. You brought your car to the entrance, and the staff would whisk it away and park it. When you returned, you presented your claim check & the staff retrieved your car. The cops claimed that the hired person could not legally drive. It turned out, since the garage was private property, that the owner controlled who could and could not drive on his property. The general public, in fact was NOT allowed to drive there. The case was thrown out. Cheers.