How to Declare a SORN Properly

SORN in plain English

Statutory Off Road Notification, better known as SORN, is your formal declaration to the DVLA that a vehicle will not be used or kept on public roads. Make that declaration and you do not need to pay vehicle tax for the period it is off-road, and you can cancel insurance if the car is kept solely on private land such as a garage or driveway. If you plan to store a car, lay it up for repairs, or break it for parts, SORN can prevent you paying for something you are not using.

Understanding when SORN is required matters. If a UK-registered vehicle is untaxed and not insured, it must not be on public roads. You must either tax and insure it or make a SORN. Failing to do so risks an £80 fine for non-compliance, and if the car is also uninsured on a public road, the penalties escalate. SORN is not difficult, but the details on timing and documents are important to get right.

Apply online with your V5C logbook number or V11 tax reminder and you will get instant confirmation at no cost. If you prefer, you can call DVLA’s 24-hour automated service or send a V890 form by post. Your SORN starts immediately in most cases, or from the first day of the next month if you apply in the month your tax expires using a V11. You cannot backdate a SORN, so planning ahead helps you maximise any vehicle tax refund for complete months.

The key point: if your vehicle is off public roads, SORN can save money - but park it on a street after declaring SORN and you risk fines and enforcement.

Who this helps most

SORN is ideal if you are storing a car long-term, keeping a project vehicle off the road, pausing use while abroad, or waiting for repairs. It also suits new keepers who have bought a vehicle and plan to keep it off-road before taxing it. If you have a classic car you only use seasonally, SORN avoids paying for unused months. Equally, if your direct debit for tax would be wasted while a car sits in a garage, SORN cuts the cost. For businesses with pool cars not in use, it offers a compliant pause. If you need the vehicle back on the road, simply tax and insure it again and the SORN ends automatically.

Your routes to make it official

1. Online - fastest and free: Use the DVLA “Make a SORN” service with your 11-digit V5C logbook number or 16-digit V11 reminder. Immediate confirmation and quickest tax refund for full remaining months.

2. Phone - 24-hour service: Call DVLA on 0300 123 4321. Suitable if you cannot go online. Have your V5C or V11 details ready.

3. Post - paper form: Complete form V890 and post to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. Slower due to postal handling. Useful if you lack the right online details.

4. New owners or missing logbook: You need a V5C in your name. If you do not have one, apply with form V62. There is a £25 fee. Once you receive the V5C, you can make a SORN.

Remember: SORN cannot be transferred to a new keeper. If you buy a car that was SORNed, you must make your own declaration if you intend to keep it off-road.

What it costs, and what it changes

Do you qualify right now?

You can make a SORN if the vehicle is registered in the UK, is kept off public roads, and you have the required DVLA reference - either the 11-digit V5C number or the 16-digit V11 reminder if you are applying in the month your tax expires. If your vehicle’s tax has already expired, use the V5C to start SORN immediately. You cannot backdate SORN, so do not wait until after a clamp notice arrives. Keep the vehicle on private land only. A public highway, lay-by, or residents’ bay counts as on-road even if you are not driving it.

Insurance is not legally required while SORNed and kept off-road, but consider fire, theft, and accidental damage. You may drive to and from a pre-booked MOT without tax if the car is insured and roadworthy to that extent. If you are a new keeper, SORN from the previous owner does not carry over. Make your own declaration once you have the V5C. If you change your mind later, simply tax the vehicle online and the SORN will end automatically. Kandoo can help if financing repairs or parts would get you road-ready sooner, reducing the time your car stays off-road.

Step-by-step to submit SORN correctly

1. Confirm vehicle is off public roads on private land.

2. Find your V5C or V11 reference number.

3. Choose online, phone, or post to apply.

4. Submit details and select the correct start option.

5. Receive confirmation - save or print it.

6. Cancel insurance only if kept strictly off-road.

7. Watch for automatic tax refund for full months.

8. Retax the vehicle when you need to drive.

Advantages and trade-offs

Before you act - key watchpoints

Timing matters. If your tax is running out this month and you use the V11, the SORN starts on the first day of next month. If you have your V5C and your tax has already expired, you can start immediately. Plan for a full-month refund only, because part-months are not repaid. Once SORN is active, the car must not be on a public road, even briefly. That includes parking on the street outside your home. If enforcement finds an untaxed or uninsured vehicle on-road without SORN, expect fines, clamping, and possible seizure. Keep your confirmation email or letter safe and ensure any insurer or finance provider is aware of the vehicle’s status. If you intend to sell, do not make a SORN on the day of sale. Instead, notify DVLA of the change of keeper and let the buyer decide. If you are unsure, call DVLA before you move or store the vehicle to avoid technical breaches.

Alternatives if SORN is not right

1. Keep the vehicle taxed and insured for occasional use.

2. Switch to a lower-cost insurance policy while still taxed.

3. Sell the vehicle and notify DVLA of the keeper change.

4. Scrap the vehicle through an Authorised Treatment Facility.

5. Export the vehicle and complete DVLA export notification.

Next step: decide if you will park exclusively on private land. If yes, SORN can start today.

FAQs

Q: Can I drive a SORNed vehicle at all? A: Only to and from a pre-booked MOT appointment, and it must be insured. Any other public road use risks fines up to £2,500.

Q: When does SORN start? A: Immediately if your tax has expired or you apply with your V5C outside the expiry month. If you use a V11 in your tax expiry month, it begins on the first day of the next month.

Q: Can I backdate SORN? A: No. DVLA does not allow backdating. Apply as soon as the vehicle will be off-road to avoid gaps and potential penalties.

Q: Will I get a refund of vehicle tax? A: Yes, for complete remaining months only. Direct Debits are cancelled automatically. There is no refund for partial months.

Q: Does SORN remove the need for insurance? A: Only if the vehicle is kept off public roads. Many owners keep laid-up cover to protect against fire or theft while stored.

Q: What if I buy a car that is already SORNed? A: SORN does not transfer. As the new keeper you must make your own SORN if you plan to keep it off-road.

Q: How do I end a SORN? A: Simply tax the vehicle. SORN also ends if you sell, scrap, or export the vehicle.

How Kandoo can help

If repairs, tyres, or essential parts would get you back on the road sooner, Kandoo can connect you with regulated UK lenders to spread the cost responsibly. Check your eligibility with soft-search options and compare rates without pressure. When you are road-ready, tax and insure the vehicle to end the SORN and drive legally.

Important information

This guide is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. DVLA rules can change. Always check the official government service for current requirements and keep evidence of your application and status on file.