SORN or Statutory Off Road Notice is used when a driver wants to remove a car from the road.
When making a vehicle SORN, the driver will no longer need to be taxed or insured. However, it must also be removed from public roads.
If a vehicle becomes SORN voluntarily or involuntarily, it must be removed from the public roads and placed into a garage, driveway, or private land.
Declaring SORN
You must inform the DVLA that you are declaring SORN on your vehicle if it has been taken off public roads.
You must make a SORN if you fall into one of these situations:
- Your vehicle is not taxed
- Your vehicle is not insured (even if this is due to a delay in your renewal)
- You plan on breaking a vehicle down before it is scrapped
- You buy a vehicle and want to keep it off the road
You don’t need to inform the DVLA of SORN on your car if you have been sent a V11 letter for a vehicle you have sold.
How to register your vehicle as SORN
You can inform the DVLA that you intend to SORN a vehicle in several ways, including online, by phone or by post.
A SORN will start immediately if your vehicle tax has expired or if you need to apply in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire. If you are applying in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire, then your SORN will begin on the first day of the following month.
Before you start
If you intend to SORN a vehicle, you must ensure your log book is correct; this includes the name and address.
If either of these are wrong in your log book, you can send a V890 form to the DVLA or contact them directly on the best way to change these details.
If you can’t find your log book, you can apply for a new one or request a duplicate one for £25.
After you make a SORN
Once your car has been SORN, you will automatically receive a tax refund for any full remaining months.
If you decide to drive your vehicle on a public road, you could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500. However, you can drive it to a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointments.
Unlike needing to tax a vehicle regularly, you don’t need to renew a SORN, and it will be automatically removed if your vehicle is taxed, sold, scrapped or permanently exported.
You can visit the DVLA for an extensive guide on SORN a vehicle.
Common SORN myths
I don't pay vehicle tax, do I need to SORN my car when I don't use it?
Even if your vehicle tax is free dr to it being electric or if you are exempt because you’re disabled, you will still have to tax your vehicle. Due to this, if you plan to take your car off the road, you will still need to make a SORN even though you have nothing to pay.
Can I tell the DVLA in advance if I plan to make my vehicle SORN in the future??
You can inform the DVLA that you intend to keep the vehicle off the road up to two months in advance. You can do this online if you would like your SORN notice to start on the first day of the next month.
Is it hard to get my vehicle back on the road?
No placing your vehicle back on the road is very easy; you have to tax your vehicle online.
Is it difficult and costly to SORN a vehicle?
It is free to SORN a vehicle, and it takes a few minutes to do so online. To do this, you will need your V5C, and you will receive an instant confirmation from the DVLA.
