Unless you’ve owned multiple vehicles that you can’t drive all at once or you haven’t been able to drive for a long period, you may not have needed to SORN a car before. However, it can be very beneficial to do so if you plan to keep your car but no longer want to drive it on a public road. This is due to the fact that when you SORN a car, you can save money because you won’t need to pay your car’s tax until you want to get it back on the road again.
Thanks to improvements made by the DVLA, you can now complete an instant SORN online in a matter of minutes. The online service is completely free to use and you are provided with an email confirmation as soon as it’s completed. However, if you’ve never completed a SORN before, below we walk you through everything you need to know.
When Should You SORN A Car?
The main reason you would want to SORN a car is if you plan to take it off the road but still wish to use it at a later date. However, there are other reasons why you may want to make a SORN such as:
- There is no tax on the vehicle (you may be waiting for the 1st of the month)
- No insurance on the vehicle (there may be a delay in renewing your policy)
- You are breaking your car for parts to sell before scrapping it
- You’ve bought a car that you want to keep off the road (SORN’s aren’t transferred from the previous keeper)
As a general rule, if your vehicle isn’t taxed or insured, you should complete a SORN in order to avoid any fines.
Where Can I Keep My Vehicle?
According to the DVLA, it’s an offence to keep a SORN car parked on a public road, pavement, grass verge or car park. Therefore, you should keep your SORN car parked on your own private property to avoid any fines and this can include your driveway, garage or a private road.
How To SORN A Car
To make a SORN on your car, you’ll need to use the 11-digit reference number from the logbook (V5C) or the 16-digit number from your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11). However, if you’ve only just bought a car that you want to SORN, you’ll be able to use the reference number from the “new keeper” section (V5C/2).
Once you have either of the digits to hand, you can follow the below steps to SORN a car online:
- Visit GOV.UK’s online service.
- Scroll down the page and click “Start now”.
- Select the reference number you wish to use (V11, V5C or V5C/2).
- Enter the reference number and click “Continue”.
- Verify the car’s details.
- Enter your e-mail or phone number for verification of the SORN (optional).
- Click “Make SORN” to complete the SORN.
Alternatively, if you wish to make a SORN via post, you can send a V890 form to “DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR”. Upon the form, you’ll need to state the day you wish the SORN to start.
If you don’t wish to use the online or postal service, you can make a SORN by phone. To do this, you’ll need to call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321 (24-hour service).
After making a SORN using either of the three methods, any current tax will be cancelled. With regards to any refund, they are calculated from the date the notification is received and they’ll be issued within 4 to 6 weeks.
How Long Is A SORN Valid?
Once you’ve made a SORN, it’s valid indefinitely and there is no need to renew or update the SORN. The only time you need to update the status is when you return it to the road, sell it or scrap the car.
Even if your car has no MOT or insurance, it doesn’t affect the validity of the SORN status. The only time a SORN status will change is if you tax the car or if you transfer ownership of the car.
As you can see from the below image, if you check the car tax and insurance status of a SORN car, you’ll see that the SORN has no expiry date (unlike the MOT status). Therefore, this is confirmation that a car’s SORN status is valid indefinitely (unless it’s taxed or the ownership changes).
Do You Need To Insure A SORN Car?
As long as your car is parked off the road and you’ve made a SORN, your car doesn’t legally need to be insured. However, if your car is valuable, we would recommend that you keep it insured whilst on a SORN.
The reason for this is that it could get stolen or damaged whilst parked on your driveway, garage or elsewhere (that’s not on a public road). Therefore, if it’s not insured regardless of its SORN status, your car won’t be covered.
It’s worth pointing out that depending upon the insurance company you use, you may be able to get a discounted premium for insuring your car under a SORN policy as opposed to a normal insurance policy.
Can You Drive A SORN Car?
Once you’ve declared to the DVLA that your car is off the road, you can’t drive it unless you are driving to a pre-arranged MOT appointment. If you are caught driving your car after you’ve made a SORN, you may be fined up to £2,500. Therefore, you should only SORN a car if you intend to not drive it on a public road.
How Do I Get My Car Back On The Road After A SORN
Once you are in a position to drive your car on a public road again, you may be wondering how to “un-SORN” a car. Luckily, getting your car back on the road after a SORN is very simple to do and it can be achieved over the phone or online. All that you need to do is tax your car using the 11-digit reference number from your car’s logbook.
However, if your car hasn’t got a valid MOT, you won’t be able to tax it. Therefore, your car will need to pass an MOT before you can tax it and then “un-SORN” it. It’s also worth pointing out that to drive your car on the road after a SORN, you’ll also need to insure it too.
Buying A SORN Car – Is It Transferrable?
Whether you are buying a “barn find” or a car that’s simply been off the road, if it’s marked as SORN, you’ll need to complete a new SORN after transferring ownership of the vehicle. This is because a SORN isn’t transferrable from the previous owner and as the new owner of the car, you’ll need to make a SORN when you receive the logbook.
Conclusion
Declaring your car as “off the road” via a SORN has never been easier thanks to the internet. There really is no excuse for not making a SORN and hopefully our guide has walked you through the whole process. The online service is our recommended method to declare your vehicle as “off the road” and it’s really simple to use.
However, if you feel that you need further information with regards to completing a SORN or your car’s SORN status, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
