To help answer your burning motoring questions, Warren Edwards, our national car buying manager, answers the most searched for queries on Google, ranging from MOTs to the cheapest vehicles to insure.
If you’re thinking of selling your vehicle, our free valuation service is the first step to parting ways and bringing in some money for your old motor.
The 15 most Googled vehicle questions (monthly searches)
- Is my vehicle taxed- 27,100
- Is my vehicle insured- 4,400
- Is my vehicle MOT'd - 1,600
- When must your vehicle have valid insurance- 1,600
- When should you update your vehicle registration certificate- 1,600
- How to SORN a vehicle- 1,300
- What information is found on a vehicle registration document- 1,300
- How much is my vehicle tax- 1,000
- How much is my vehicle worth- 720
- How do you sell a vehicle- 140
- When are you not allowed to sound your vehicle horn- 140
- How to change owner of vehicle- 140
- What is a cat S vehicle- 110
- What is the cheapest vehicle to insure- 110
- When does a vehicle become MOT exempt- 90
1 - Is my vehicle taxed?
“As a legal requirement, it’s important to tax your vehicle before driving it on the road. All vehicles must be taxed unless your car or van has been Statutory Off Road Notice (SORN). To ensure that your tax is up to date, go to the gov.uk website and enter your reg plate.”
2 - Is my vehicle insured?
“Just as taxing your vehicle, it is imperative that your car is insured. As required by law, you must have a least Third Party Only cover if your vehicle will be driven or parked in a public place. Vehicle insurance also covers any damage that may occur and will ultimately give you peace of mind. To check if your car is insured, all you need to do is take your registration number and then search for it in the Motor Insurance Database (MID).”
3 - Is my vehicle MOT'd?
“A vehicle MOT is crucial for all road users as it checks how safe the car is to drive, ensuring that it is safe for other road users. If you drive without a valid MOT this will invalidate your insurance making you not road legal. To check the MOT status of your vehicle, go to the gov.uk website to check your MOT status.”
4 - When must your vehicle have valid insurance?
“You must have valid vehicle insurance if you are driving on public roads, parking on the street, driveway or garage. The sole purpose of insurance is to provide financial protection against damage and injury from other road users- meaning that you and other drivers are covered if anything happens.”
5 - When should you update your vehicle registration certificate?
“There are a number of occasions when you have to update your vehicle registration certificate, such as, a name change, a new address, you sell your car or are looking to transfer ownership. If you lose your registration plate or change the appearance of your vehicle then you must also update the information on your certificate.”
6 - How to SORN a vehicle
“If you are looking to SORN your vehicle you will need to register this on your V11 document, which is a tax reminder letter you will receive from DVLA. On this document you will need to tick that you want to SORN your vehicle and then post back the document. Don’t worry if you haven’t gotten a V11, you can easily apply online to SORN your vehicle.”
7 - What information is found on a vehicle registration document?
“Your vehicle registration document is an important piece of information that you should try and keep safe as it holds a number of crucial things such as date of first registration, the registration number, the registered keeper as well as previous owner, along with the make of the vehicle. As this is a legal document, try to keep it handy in case you need it in the future.”
8 - How much is my vehicle tax?
“The cost of taxing a vehicle differs slightly depending on the type of vehicle you have along with the age of it. For older cars, you may have to pay slightly more compared to newer ones. If you want to check how much the tax is for a vehicle you are looking to buy, go to the gov.uk website to find out the correct costs.”
9 - How much is my vehicle worth?
“The age of your vehicle can determine how much it is worth when you come to sell it, along with the condition that it is in. If your car or van has any cosmetic and structural damage, this will decrease the value. If you’re interested in knowing how much your vehicle is worth you can use online vehicle valuation tools.”
10 - How do you sell a vehicle?
“There are a number of ways to sell your vehicle which can be done online or in person, through websites, car dealers, or using instant valuation sites like Money 4 Your Motors. Before you start the selling process, ensure that your vehicle is in the best possible condition to get the best price possible.”
11 - When are you not allowed to sound your vehicle horn
“If you're driving in a built-up area, you are not allowed to sound your horn between the hours of 11:30pm and 7am. Under the law, using your horn during this time is considered antisocial behaviour.”
12 - How to change owner of vehicle
“If you are looking to change the owner of your vehicle, you must first notify the DVLA, you can either do this online or offline. Once DVLA has been informed, you must then begin the process of taxing and insuring your vehicle.”
13 - What is a Cat S vehicle
“If a car, van or truck is classed as a Cat S vehicle, this means that they have sustained structural damage, that is often the result of an accident. Most Cat S vehicles can be repaired, but these can be costly repairs to make. Most insurers will write off this level of damage, so be mindful when purchasing a Cat S vehicle.”
14 - What is the cheapest vehicle to insure
“There are quite a few cars in the UK that are cheap to insure, such as Vauxhall Corsa, Nissan Micra and the Volkswagen Up who all fall into the insurance group one. Before purchasing a vehicle, check the insurance costs to ensure that it is something that you can afford.”
15 - When does a vehicle become MOT exempt
“Cars, vans and motorbikes that are over 40 years of age, could be exempt from MOT. There are a number of vehicles that will be exempt from this, cars, vans and motorbikes that have been significantly modified will still have to get an MOT.”
These questions are just a taste of what’s involved in car ownership. Find out more information on selling your vehicle with our helpful expert guides.
