
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)
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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
Finder survey: What proportion of Brits say customer service is one of the most important considerations when choosing car insurance?
Response | Male | Female |
---|---|---|
Customer service | 23.1% | 16.87% |
More guides on Finder
-
Mitsubishi Outlander insurance group
Find out which insurance group the Mitsubishi Outlander falls under and how much it costs to insure.
-
Peugeot 108 insurance group
Find out which insurance group the Peugeot 108 falls under and how much it costs to insure.
-
Peugeot 106 insurance group
Find out which insurance group the Peugeot 106 falls under and how much it costs to insure.
-
Peugeot 2008 insurance group and cost
Find out the insurance group for your Peugeot 2008, how much it should cost to insure and how to save on your premium.
-
Peugeot 107 insurance group and cost
Find out the average cost of car insurance for a Peugeot 107 based on the specific model version, the driver’s age and their location.
-
Peugeot 208 insurance group and cost
Find out the average cost of car insurance for a Peugeot 208 based on its insurance group, the driver’s age and their location.
-
Voided and cancelled car insurance
Read our guide to understand why honesty is always the best policy to avoid your car insurance being voided or cancelled.
-
Peugeot 207 insurance group & costs
Read our comprehensive guide and find out how much it may cost you to insure a Peugeot 207 and how to save on your car insurance premiums.
-
Peugeot 206 insurance group & costs
Read our comprehensive guide and find out how much it may cost you to insure a Peugeot 206 and how to save on your car insurance premiums.
-
Get agreed value car insurance quotes online
Find out how agreed value car insurance works and if it’s the right option for you.