How do I declare my car as off the road?

Key points

• A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is the official process for telling the DVLA you’re not using your car and it is untaxed or uninsured

• SORN vehicles must be parked on private land, driveways or garages

• If you’re caught driving a SORN car you can be fined or face prosecution

• You can usually apply online, on the phone or by post for a SORN

If you’re not using your car and it’s parked on private land, you must register a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) if it is untaxed or uninsured.

If your car has a SORN, you don’t need to tax or insure it but there are rules to follow to make sure you’re not fined. 

Here we explain what a SORN is, how to get one, and what to do if you start using your car again.  

What is a SORN? 

A SORN is an official process where you tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) you’re no longer using your car.

It means you won’t need to pay for car insurance or road tax on the car but you can’t drive it or park it on a public road.

When would I need to declare SORN? 

There are many reasons why you might not be using your car and want to declare it off road. These could include going on an extended holiday, taking a break from driving, or if your car is undergoing repairs or a restoration project. 

While taking your car off the road is your choice, under UK law your car must be taxed and insured at all times unless you register a SORN.

The DVLA says you must make a SORN in the following situations:

• If your car isn’t taxed or insured (for any period of time) 

• If you’re planning on breaking down your car into parts before it’s scrapped

• If you want to keep your car on private land (if it’s a new car a SORN can’t be transferred from the last owner and you’ll need to reapply) 

What happens if I don't SORN my vehicle?

If you stop paying for vehicle tax or car insurance but you’re still parking and driving your car on public roads, and you're caught by the DVLA, there are serious consequences.

• You may be fined by the DVLA for not paying tax, this is an £80 automatic fine for anyone with an untaxed car which doesn’t have a SORN. 

• You may also have to pay an out-of-court settlement and the amount of this depends on how much tax is owed. 

• You can be prosecuted in court

• Your car can be clamped, taken away or even destroyed

• The DVLA can also backdate charges in some cases

You may also face penalties from the police, including prosecution, if you drive an uninsured car. This may lead to problems getting insurance in the future too.

Where can I park a SORN vehicle?

You’ll need to park a SORN vehicle on a private road, driveway or garage. It can’t be parked on a public road or pavement and if it is, you may face penalties and fines from the DVLA. The car may also be removed if it’s found on a public road.  

How do I SORN my car? 

You can register your car as SORN if you’re the legal keeper or owner. There are a few different ways to do this:

• Online at the Government website

• By calling the DVLA on 0300 123 4321 (24-hours a day)

• By post by downloading and printing the V890 application form and sending it to the following address: DVLA, Swansea SA99 1AR 

If you aren’t the registered keeper or owner of the car, you can only apply by post. You’ll need to fill in the ‘new keeper section’ of your logbook and send this in the post with a V890 form to the DVLA. 

You will also need to give some documents for the SORN including the 11-digit number in your vehicle log book (V5C) or the 16-digit reference number from your vehicle tax reminder.

If you don’t have a log book, you’ll need to apply for a new one from the DVLA. You can do this by filling in and sending a V62 form along with the V890 form and it costs £25. You can also order a duplicate log book if yours is lost or stolen.

When will the SORN start?

The SORN will start immediately if your vehicle tax has expired or if you’re not applying in the month it will expire. 

If you apply in the month your tax is set to expire your SORN will start on the first day of the next month. It’s possible to apply for SORN by post up to two months in advance.

How do I remove a SORN?

A SORN is automatically cancelled if you tax your car again or if it’s sold or scrapped.  You don’t need to renew it or tell the DVLA if you tax it again.

Before you can tax your car and drive it on a public road again, you must have valid car insurance and an up-to-date MOT in place.