By Clare Yates
8 min read
Maybe you’re putting your car away for the winter, waiting on repairs, or simply don’t need it for a while. Declaring it off the road means you don’t have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) or keep it insured for road use.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through what SORN means, when to apply, how to do it and what to watch out for. Plus, we look at what SORN means when it comes to car insurance.
What is a SORN and when do you need one?
If you own a vehicle in the UK and you’re not using or storing it on a public road, you must inform the DVLA that it’s off the road. That’s what a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is. Some examples of when you might use SORN are if:
Your vehicle is untaxed.
Your vehicle is uninsured (even for a short period).
Your vehicle is damaged or failed its MOT, and you either aren’t fixing it or are thinking about scrapping it.
You don’t plan to drive your car for a while.
The car isn’t roadworthy, but you’re in the process of restoring it.
You drive the car, but never on public roads.
You only use your car at certain times of the year.
Once declared as SORN, you cannot drive or even park your vehicle on a public road unless you tax it again. If you do, you could face court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 (unless driving your car to a pre-booked MOT test).
The DVLA records every SORN electronically, so there’s no physical certificate. If you sell or scrap the vehicle, the SORN automatically ends and you’ll need to make sure the next owner knows their responsibilities for either taxing the car or re-registering a SORN.
Why might you want to SORN a vehicle?
Declaring a vehicle off the road can save money if you’re not driving it for a while – for example, if it’s awaiting repairs, stored long-term, or waiting to be scrapped. You’ll avoid paying Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) and you can legally cancel your insurance if you wish.
It’s surprisingly common for drivers to take their vehicles off the road temporarily. DVLA data shows that over five million vehicles are declared as SORN. For many, it’s a practical way to pause ownership costs without selling the car. Just remember that the DVLA says you must keep your SORN vehicle in a garage, on a driveway or on private land. It’s not enough to simply not be driving the car - it must literally be off public roads.
SORN is also useful for owners of classic or second cars that only see seasonal use, or that are only currently being driven on private roads or race tracks. It allows you to store your car legally without incurring unnecessary costs – as long as you don’t take it out on the road.
Am I eligible to declare a SORN?
To declare a car off the road, you must already be registered as its legal keeper with the DVLA. That means the vehicle needs to be in your name, and you should have the log book (V5C) or the V11 tax reminder with your details on it.
If you’re not yet the registered keeper, you’ll need to apply by post and complete the relevant section of the V5C log book, or use form V62 to request a new one before submitting your SORN.
How to declare your car off the road
Declaring SORN is simple and can be done online, by phone or by post. First, get either of these:
The 16-digit reference number from your V11 tax reminder, or
The 11-digit reference from your V5C log book.
Then choose one of the following ways to declare a SORN:
Online: Go to the official gov.uk SORN page and follow the online process.
Telephone: Call the DVLA vehicle service on its 24-hour telephone number: 0300 123 4321.
Post: Complete a V890 application form and send it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR.
The SORN starts immediately if your tax has expired, or on the first day of the next month if your tax is still valid. The DVLA will confirm once it’s processed. Keep this confirmation safe.
Once a SORN is in place, you don’t need to renew it. It remains valid until the vehicle is taxed, sold, exported or scrapped.
How to remove SORN
When you’re ready to get your car back on the road, removing a SORN is simple, all you need to do is tax the vehicle. You can do this online, over the phone, or at some Post Office branches. You’ll just need the 11-digit number from your V5C log book, and once you pay for the tax, the SORN is automatically lifted.
Before you drive, make sure your car is fully road-legal. That means having a valid car insurance policy and an up-to-date MOT, so you can get back on the road safely and legally.
Do I need to insure a SORN car?
You don’t need valid insurance for a SORN vehicle. Since you won’t be driving it, it doesn’t represent a risk to other people so you don’t need the usual third-party insurance that is normally a legal requirement of driving a vehicle.
But it can still be wise to keep some level of cover. Leading UK insurer LV= notes that your car could still be at risk from fire, theft or damage while stored off the road. Even if you’re saving on tax and road use insurance, losing the car to theft could cost far more in the long run.
Some insurers offer specialist laid-up or SORN cover, designed to protect vehicles currently off the road. Depending on the insurer and their policy, this can cover either just fire and theft, or fire, theft and accidental damage.
You will see some insurers offer ‘build up insurance’ or ‘kit car insurance’ These are policies for cars that are off the road for assembly, repairs, customisation or modification. They keep your project protected while it’s being worked on.
While many car insurance policies require you to have a current MOT certificate and tax in place, specialist SORN car insurance can provide coverage while your car has neither.
Buying and selling a SORN car
If you’ve just bought a car, any existing SORN doesn’t transfer over: it automatically ends when ownership changes. You’ll need to make a fresh SORN application in your own name before keeping the vehicle untaxed or uninsured.
Similarly, if you sell a car that’s already off the road, the SORN ends for you once the DVLA registers the change of keeper.
Does a SORN car need an MOT?
No, if your car isn’t being driven, it doesn’t need a valid MOT. However, an existing MOT certificate stays valid until it expires, even while the car is SORNed.
If the MOT expires while the car is SORNed, before you take it back on the road you’ll need to make sure it has a current MOT, as well as road tax and insurance.
The only time you’re allowed to drive a SORN-declared vehicle is when you’re heading to a pre-booked MOT test or other testing appointment. You must also make sure the car is roadworthy and insured when driving to the test.
What could happen if I don’t apply for a SORN?
You can’t simply take a car off the road and stop paying car insurance and tax. Failing to declare it off the road via SORN can lead to serious penalties. Having an untaxed and uninsured vehicle means you could end up with:
An automatic £80 fine for not having a SORN (reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days).
A £100 fixed penalty for keeping an uninsured vehicle (reduced to £50 if paid within 33 days).
Your car being clamped, impounded or even destroyed.
Possible prosecution and a £1,000 fine for using an untaxed vehicle on a public road without a SORN.
Important things to remember
The DVLA warns that you must not keep a SORN vehicle on a public road, even if you’re not driving it. That includes parking outside your house if it’s not private property.
If you decide to use the vehicle again, the SORN will end automatically when you tax it. Remember to arrange car insurance too. Continuous insurance enforcement means vehicles must be insured unless they’re declared SORN.
A few other key points:
You’ll get an automatic refund for any full months of unused tax.
You can drive a SORN vehicle only to or from a pre-booked MOT or test appointment (keep proof of your appointment to hand in case you are stopped by the police).
Electric or tax-exempt cars still need to be SORNed if unused.
Breaking these rules can lead to fines of up to £1,000 and possible vehicle clamping.