SORN explained: taking a car off the road the right way

If you're not going to use a vehicle for a while, you don't have to keep paying to tax it. Instead, you can tell DVLA it's off the road by making a SORN. It's free, it takes a few minutes, and it stops automatic penalties for an untaxed vehicle.

But a SORN comes with strict rules about where the vehicle is kept and when it can be driven. Break them and the fine can be far bigger than a year's tax.

What a SORN is

SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It's a formal declaration to DVLA that a vehicle registered to you is being kept off public roads. While a SORN is in place, the vehicle doesn't need tax.

Every vehicle registered in the UK must be either taxed or SORN. If it's neither, and it hasn't been sold, scrapped or exported, DVLA treats it as untaxed and can issue an automatic penalty of £80. If the case goes to court, the fine can reach £1,000.

When you should make a SORN

Common reasons include:

• the car is off the road for long-term repairs or restoration
• you're storing a car over winter, such as a classic or a convertible
• you can't afford to insure or tax it for a while
• the MOT has run out and you're not ready to get it tested
• you're abroad for an extended period and the car stays in a garage

You don't need to make a SORN for a vehicle you've already sold, scrapped or permanently exported. Telling DVLA about the sale or disposal is enough.

How to make a SORN

You'll need the vehicle registration and a reference number from either the V5C log book (it must be in your name) or a recent vehicle tax reminder.

• Online: through the official service on GOV.UK, which is the quickest way
• By phone: through DVLA's vehicle tax and SORN line
• By post: using form V890, or the section on the tax reminder letter

There's no fee. Be careful of third-party websites that charge for the same thing. Only use the GOV.UK service.

When the SORN starts

If your tax has already run out, the SORN starts straight away. If you make it during the month your tax is due to expire, it starts on the first day of the next month.

Getting a tax refund

When you make a SORN, any vehicle tax on the vehicle is cancelled. DVLA automatically sends a refund for any full months remaining. You don't need to ask for it. Part months aren't refunded, and nor are Direct Debit surcharges or card fees. If you pay by Direct Debit, it's cancelled automatically.

Rules while a vehicle is SORN

Keep it off public roads

A SORN vehicle must be kept in a garage, on a driveway or on other private land. Parking it on a public road, even outside your house, breaks the rules, whether or not you drive it.

Driving it only to a booked test

The one journey you can make is to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. The car must still be insured, and it must be in a safe condition to drive. A trip to the shops, or even to a garage for repairs without a test booked, isn't allowed.

Using a SORN vehicle on the road for any other reason can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.

Insurance

The law on continuous insurance doesn't apply to a vehicle that's SORN, so you can cancel the cover. Many owners of stored classic cars keep laid-up or fire and theft cover anyway, because the car can still be stolen or damaged at home.

Bringing a SORN vehicle back on the road

To use the vehicle again, you simply tax it. Taxing it automatically cancels the SORN. Before you do, check:

1. The MOT. If the vehicle needs one, it must have a valid MOT when the tax starts. If the MOT ran out while the car was off the road, book a test and drive only to that appointment. Our MOT due date checker shows the current status.
2. Insurance. Arrange cover before the first drive.
3. The car itself. Tyres, brakes and the battery deteriorate when a car sits still. Our pre-MOT checklist is a good starting point.

Buying or selling a SORN vehicle

When a SORN vehicle is sold, the SORN doesn't pass to the buyer. The new keeper must either tax the vehicle before driving it or make their own SORN. If you're buying one, plan how you'll get it home: tax and insure it first, or use a trailer or recovery service. Our guide to taxing a car you've just bought explains what you need.

A car tax check shows whether a vehicle is currently taxed or SORN, which is worth checking before you go to see a car for sale.

When a SORN is the right choice

A SORN is the right choice for any vehicle you won't use for a month or more. It's free, it stops tax penalties, and it gets you a refund on any full months of tax left. Just keep the vehicle off public roads, and only drive it to a booked test.