How to SORN a car

If you’ve taken your car off the road and are keeping it without ever planning on driving it on the road, then you’ll need to get it a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) for it. This is because the DVLA needs to know that you won’t be on the road and so won’t need to pay car tax. Once you have your SORN, you will automatically get any unused months of road tax refunded to you in the post within six weeks.

How to SORN your car (A step by step guide)

1. Tick the SORN box on your V11 (if your tax is already running out). If your road tax is running out, the DVLA will send you a V11 with your vehicles registration number on it. The V11 gives you the various options for renewing your car tax as well as a check box if would like to apply for a SORN. Simply tick this box and send it back to the DVLA to apply for a SORN.
2. Choose when to take your car off the road (if you have full months remaining on your road tax). You can choose to take your car off the road either immediately or on the first day of the next month. You will need different information depending on which you choose: If you choose to take it off immediately, you will need the eleven digit number on your vehicle log book (V5C); if you choose to wait until the first of the next month, you’ll need the 16 digit number on your most recent tax reminder letter (V11).
3. Tell the DVLA that you want to SORN your car. You can do this in a number of different ways. If you are not the registered owner of the car, you must get your SORN by post.
   • Online. Fortunately, the government have a handy page (https://sorn.service.gov.uk/) where you can enter either your V5C, V5C/2 or V11 and follow their simple steps to apply for your SORN. For this option you have to be the vehicles registered owner.
   • By phone. You can apply for a SORN by calling the DVLA at 0300 123 4321. This is a 24 hour phone service, so you can call anytime, and they will take you through all you need to do to get a SORN.
   • By post. You can also apply for a SORN by post by completing the application form V890 (available here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/v890-statutory-off-road-notification-sorn) and send it to:
     DVLA
     Swansea
     SA99 1AR.
     When you apply by post, you can choose any day in the current or previous month as the day you take your car off the road. You can also choose a day in the next month or the month after that, but if you do this you’ll have to include a letter explaining why you can’t apply for your SORN closer to the time.
4. Once you have your SORN, you will automatically get a refund on any unused tax months. This should happen within 6 weeks, and if it hasn’t, or if the information on your rebate cheque is wrong, contact the DVLA.

Frequently asked questions

• How do I get my car back on the road after SORN?

  To get a car back on the road after a SORN, you first need to apply for and secure an MOT certificate before applying for road tax. It’s worth pointing out that even with a SORN in place and no current MOT certificate, you are allowed to drive your car to a pre-arranged MOT test, however, your car should be safe to drive. Once you have vehicle tax with your V5C, your SORN will automatically expire and you can insure the car.

• Can you drive a car if it is SORN?

  No, a car that has a SORN is not allowed on the roads and there is a sizeable fine for any infringement. However, the only exceptions to this ruling is that you can drive a car registered as SORN to a pre-arranged MOT test or repair garage.

• Can you park a car on the road if it is SORN?

  No, any car on a public road that is not taxed is liable to being reported and fined.

• Do you need to insure a car if it is SORN?

  No, if a car is off the road and not in use it does not need to be insured.

• Can you drive a SORN car to MOT without insurance?

  You are allowed to drive a SORN car to a prearranged MOT without insurance if it is within a reasonable distance. Alternatively, you can arrange to have your MOT providers drive to you to pick up a SORN car.

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Written by

Esther Wolffowitz

Publisher

Esther Wolffowitz was a publisher at finder.com specialising in insurance. Esther holds an MSc in Media and Communication Governance from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). See full bio