Published 19 March 2025
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Should I SORN my car?
- SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification.
- A SORN means you cannot legally drive your car.
- If your vehicle isn't taxed or insured and you don’t have a SORN, you'll face a penalty fee.
What is a SORN and what does it do?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification and it’s how you register your vehicle as off the road with the DVLA. This includes driving it and parking it on a public road. A car with a SORN must be parked on a private driveaway or in a garage.
Declaring your vehicle off road with a SORN means you won’t be able to drive or park it on a public road. Your vehicle will need to be kept in a garage or on private land, like your driveway.
When should you SORN your vehicle?
If you’re no longer using your car, or you’re taking a break from driving it, you may want to consider a SORN. These means your car is officially registered as being off the road, so you cannot legally drive it.
Some people choose to SORN their car if:
- They’re going to university or on an extended trip without their car.
- They only use the car in the summer months (e.g. a classic car or campervan).
- They’ve bought a ‘doer-upper’ and it's not roadworthy yet.
- Their insurance or car tax has expired and they haven't renewed it.
- They want to scrap the vehicle but haven’t done so yet.
Do I still pay road tax if I SORN my car?
No, you won’t pay road tax while your car is under a SORN. This is the only scenario where you would not pay road tax for a vehicle. If your vehicle is in use, it’s a legal requirement to pay road tax – failure to do so will result in a penalty fine. You can get a refund from the DVLA if you have paid any road tax in advance. The DVLA will automatically cancel the SORN when you re-tax the vehicle.
Do I need car insurance if I SORN my car?
Legally, no, but it’s worth remembering your vehicle could still be damaged or stolen despite being out of use and kept on a private driveaway or in a garage. You may want to consider insuring your vehicle for fire, vandalism, damage and theft, as those risks still stand, despite being off the road.
If you haven't declared your vehicle as off road through a SORN, car insurance is still a legal requirement. Failure to insure a car in use will result in a penalty fine.
How to SORN a vehicle?
- If you’re the registered owner of the vehicle, you can file a SORN online for free.
- To get started, you'll need some information from your vehicle log book or vehicle tax reminder letter.
- If you're not the registered keeper of the vehicle, you'll need to apply for a SORN by post using the V890 form, or call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321.
- Once the SORN is in place, it’ll stay in place until you tax or sell the vehicle.
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A SORN isn't transferable, so if you buy a vehicle that's already declared as off road, you'll need to declare a new SORN as the new registered keeper.
Can I drive a SORN car?
No. The only reason to drive a car after a SORN has been declared, is to a pre-booked MOT. If you’re stopped by the police on the way, you’ll need to provide proof of the pre-booked MOT as your reason for driving a car despite its SORN.
So, if you have a vehicle which isn’t in use and is parked on a private driveaway or in a private garage, you may want to consider a SORN until you’re ready to drive it again. Remember, you won’t need to pay car tax, and insurance is not a legal requirement for a vehicle under a SORN – but it’s worth having some cover in case of fire, vandalism, damage or theft.
