How to SORN my car? What is Statutory Off Road Notification and will I be exempt from car tax?
Declaring your car is off the road with a SORN can save you money on tax and insurance
There are many reasons someone may wish to take their car off the road - and a SORN is the best way to save money on road tax and insurance.
If you need time to get the money together for repairing your car, or want to work on a vehicle before you drive it, here’s how to get a Statutory Off Road Notification.
What is Statutory Off Road Notification or SORN?
A Statutory Off Road Notification is a declaration made by the registered owner of a vehicle that they are removing their car from the public highway.
By doing this, the person will no longer need to pay road tax, as the notification tells the DVLA that a vehicle is registered but not currently being used.
Those who have their insurance and road tax expire and don’t want to renew them may find it makes more sense to declare a SORN instead.
When do I have to make a SORN?
If one of the following situations applies to your vehicle you will need to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification:
- You haven’t paid tax for your vehicle
- You haven’t paid insurance for your vehicle
- You want to break a vehicle down for parts before scrapping it
- You purchase or receive a vehicle and don’t want to put it on the road
If you’ve sold a vehicle and been sent a V11 reminder letter, you won’t need to make a SORN, as you’ll receive a confirmation that you no longer have the vehicle within 4 weeks of informing DVLA you’ve sold it.
How do I declare a SORN?
People wanting to declare a Statutory Off Road Notification can go to the DVLA website to fill out the necessary details.
You will receive a refund for any full months of remaining tax, and won’t be able to use the vehicle on the road until you tax it again.
If you want to start the SORN immediately, use the 11 digit number on your vehicle log book (V5C).
If you want it to begin on the first day of the following month, use the 16-digit number on your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11) - but bear in mind this number can only be used once.
If the vehicle isn’t registered in your name you will need to tell the DVLA it’s off the road by post.
You can also send applications in the mail by filling in the V890 application form, or calling the DVLA vehicle service.
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What rules do I have to follow once I’ve declared a SORN?
Once you’ve made a SORN, your car has to remain off the road and either stored in a garage or kept on private land.
If your car is on the road in any way, it has to be taxed and insured - which includes parking it on a curb and leaving it there.
If your road tax expires, the DVLA will assume your vehicle is off the road, so if you don’t keep your tax up to date, you could be issued an £80 penalty for no road tax - or £100 if the car is uninsured.