How to SORN a Car with the DVLA
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 3 months ago
5 min read
- Car ownership
- How to
FixMyCar explains how to register a car as SORN.
If you’re not going to use your car for a long time, you can apply for a ‘SORN’, which tells the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) that the vehicle won’t be driven on public roads. This guide explains what a SORN is, how to register for one, and the financial benefits of doing so.
Contents
Should I SORN my car if I'm not using it for a while?
Do you have to pay to SORN a car?
How long does it take to SORN a car?
What is a SORN?
SORN stands for Statutory Off-Road Notice. It’s a legally binding statement telling the DVLA that your car won’t be used or kept on public roads.
Why would I need a SORN?
You can apply for a SORN if you’re leaving your car unused and off the road for more than two weeks. You don’t have to pay tax or insurance for a vehicle that has a SORN, which allows you to save money.
You must apply for a SORN in the following situations:
Your car is untaxed
Your car is uninsured
You want to break your vehicle down for parts before selling it
You buy or receive a car and want to keep it off the road
You could receive a significant fine if your car is uninsured or untaxed and you park it on the road.
How long is a SORN valid?
A SORN doesn't have an expiration date. It is automatically cancelled when:
You tax your vehicle again
You sell, scrap or permanently export your vehicle
If you do neither of the above, your SORN will remain valid.
Should I SORN my car if I’m not using it for a while?
The decision is up to you. If you know you’re not going to use your car for a while and don’t want to pay for insurance and tax, registering for a SORN could save you hundreds of pounds.
Your MOT will still be valid, but if it expires while the SORN is in place, you’ll need to renew it before taking the vehicle on the road again.
How to SORN a car
The fastest way to SORN a car is by doing it online. Alternatively, you can do it by post or over the phone.
Online
Visit the Government website to declare your car SORN. If you want the SORN to be effective immediately, you’ll need to find the 11-digit reference number on the front of your V5C.
You can use the 11-digit reference number from your V11 tax reminder if you want your car to be registered as SORN from the start of the following month. You’ll get a refund for the tax you haven’t used through the post.
By phone
Before you ring the DVLA, gather the details you’ll need, including your V11 tax reminder or V5C reference number. The DVLA’s phone number is 0300 123 4321.
You should receive confirmation within four weeks that your car is registered as SORN. If you don’t hear anything within this timeframe, give the DVLA another call to check.
By post
You’ll need a V890 form to register for a SORN by post. You can download a copy online or get one from your local post office. After you’ve filled the form in, post it to the following address:
DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR
You can expect to receive confirmation within four weeks. If you don’t, make sure you follow it up.
Do you have to pay to SORN a car?
Declaring your car as SORN doesn’t cost anything. In fact, you could get money back from unused tax.
How long does it take to SORN a car?
Registering your vehicle as SORN online should only take a few minutes. If you use your V5C document, the SORN will take effect straight away. If you use your V11 tax reminder, it will come into effect from the 1st of the following month.
Consequences of not declaring SORN
You shouldn’t underestimate the consequences of not declaring your car as SORN. You could face a hefty fine if your vehicle doesn’t have tax or insurance and hasn’t been registered as off-the-road.
Another thing to consider is the impact on future insurance policies. Insurance providers might increase the price of your premium if you don’t comply with SORN because you are viewed as a higher-risk customer.
Finally, you could face legal proceedings and lose ownership of your car if you persistently fail to declare SORN. Authorities have the right to seize non-compliant vehicles.
How to un-SORN a car
Taxing your car will automatically cancel the SORN; you don’t need to do anything else. Remember to get insurance and check the MOT is still valid before driving.
Frequently asked questions
Once you’ve registered your car as SORN, it no longer needs to be taxed. However, it must be parked on private land, or you could be fined.
You don’t need insurance for a vehicle with a SORN. It might be a good idea to insure it against fire, theft and accidental damage, but you are not obligated to do so.
If you don’t have a V5C, you must apply for one before you can SORN your vehicle. Fill out a V62 form and post it to the DVLA with your V890 form to SORN the car. It costs £25 for a new V5C logbook.
A vehicle with a SORN must be parked on private land and kept off public roads, which means you’re not allowed to drive it. All cars used on public roads must be taxed and insured. If you ignore this rule and drive anyway, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500 and a request to appear in court.
No. Cars with a SORN must be parked on private land.
You can sell a car with a SORN. The new owner must tax it before they drive it away or arrange for a trailer to collect it.
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.