How to SORN your vehicle if it’s off the road

A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is a formal notification process, which is designed for vehicle owners that aren’t planning on using their vehicle for an extended period of time. 

If you know that your vehicle is not going to be used, then you may be able to declare it off the road, by submitting a SORN to the government. 

By understanding what a SORN is and how this process works, you can ensure your vehicle is being stored and used in a legally compliant way, and minimise the risks of any unexpected vehicle fines. 

Below, we’ve shared our quick and handy guide to understanding SORNs and their use cases. 

 

What is a SORN?

SORN stands for a Statutory Off Road Notification. 

These notifications can be used to inform the government that your vehicle is not going to be driven or parked on public roads for a period of time. This means that you don’t need to pay vehicle tax on the vehicle (while it isn’t being used).

A SORN is a declaration that is submitted to the DVLA.

If a SORN has been submitted for a vehicle, this means that it:

• Can’t be driven on public roads
• Can’t be parked on public roads
• Must be kept on private land (e.g. in a garage or on the owner’s driveway)
• Isn’t subject to vehicle tax (VED) 

 

Once the vehicle owner has submitted a SORN, it will last indefinitely, until one of the following occurs to the vehicle: 

• It’s taxed again
• It’s sold
• It’s scrapped or exported

 

So, if any of these instances happen, then your SORN is cancelled automatically, and you’ll have to resume paying vehicle tax. 

 

How much does a SORN cost?

The process of declaring a SORN on your vehicle is completely free.

There are no fees associated with submitting a SORN, and you can do so by post (via the V5C logbook), over the phone (using the DVLA service) or via the government website. 

Furthermore, if your vehicle has remaining tax (from a payment previously made) at the point when you submit your SORN, you will get a refund for any full months where the tax wasn’t required. 

 

Can you get an MOT with a SORN vehicle?

Yes – It is possible to get an MOT for a vehicle, even if it has a declared SORN against it.

It’s important to note that, you can drive your vehicle directly to or from an MOT appointment, even if it has a SORN against it. 

This is the only exception to the rule that you can’t drive a SORN vehicle on the road. 

But, there are a number of conditions to this, which you absolutely must adhere to. These are:

• The MOT must be pre-booked, in advance
• The vehicle must be insured for the drive to the MOT
• You must travel straight to the test centre (and no unnecessary stops)

 

Note that, if you drive a SORN vehicle on public roads for any other reason, you could be fined or prosecuted. 

 

Do I need to tell my insurance provider if I submit a SORN?

If you have submitted a SORN for a vehicle, you are not legally required to insure it (as it won’t be driven on the road). 

However, you may still choose to insure your vehicle. There are two main reasons why your vehicle may still be insured: 

• This includes laid-up insurance, to protect your vehicle against theft or damage while it is being stored
• If you’re driving the vehicle to get an MOT, you’ll need to insure it for that journey 

 

If you know that your vehicle will have a SORN for an extended period of time, it’s usually recommended to let your insurer know. 

While not mandatory to do so, it’s generally best practice to be transparent with your insurance provider. 

 

How to re-tax a SORN vehicle 

If you want to resume driving your vehicle, then all you need to do is tax it again. 

Simply visit the government’s online vehicle tax service, and pay tax against the vehicle. 

When you do so, the SORN will be automatically cancelled. 

Note that, before you tax the vehicle, you should check that it has a valid MOT (or that the vehicle is less than 3 years old) and valid insurance. 

Then, if all these requirements are met, you can legally start driving your vehicle on the road again. 

 

By understanding how SORN works, you can ensure you’re remaining compliant with UK vehicle regulations. 

To ensure your vehicle is operating at peak performance, and fully compliant with UK driving legislation, Watling Tyres’ expert team is on hand to help.