How to SORN a Vehicle in the UK

If you are not using your vehicle on public roads, you may need to declare it as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). This tells the DVLA that your vehicle is being kept off the road, so you no longer need to tax or insure it for road use.

A SORN is commonly used when a vehicle is:

• Stored in a garage or on private land
• Not being driven for a long period
• Awaiting repair, sale, or scrappage

Once declared, the vehicle must not be used or parked on public roads.

How To SORN A Vehicle

You can SORN a vehicle directly through the official DVLA service.

To do this, you’ll need:

• Your vehicle registration number
• Your V5C logbook reference number

You can apply:

• Online via the DVLA website
• By phone
• By post

Once completed, the SORN starts immediately (or from the next month depending on timing), and you will automatically receive a refund for any full months of remaining tax.

How To SORN A Car Off The Road

SORN simply means the vehicle is officially declared off the road. This applies whether it is a car, van, or other vehicle.

Once a car is SORNed:

• It cannot be driven on public roads (except to a pre-booked MOT test)
• It must be kept on private land such as a driveway or garage
• It no longer requires road tax

You must not leave a SORN vehicle parked on a public road at any time, as this is illegal.

A SORN also remains active until the vehicle is sold, scrapped, exported, or taxed again.

When Do You Need To SORN A Vehicle?

You need to declare a SORN if:

• Your vehicle is not taxed
• You are not using or insuring it for road use
• You are storing it off the road
• You have just bought a vehicle and won’t be driving it immediately

It is a legal requirement if the vehicle is not taxed or insured and is being kept off public roads.

What Happens After You SORN A Vehicle?

Once a SORN is active:

• You automatically stop paying road tax
• You may receive a refund for any full remaining months of tax
• The vehicle cannot be used on public roads
• The SORN stays active until you tax, sell, or scrap the vehicle

There is no need to renew a SORN each year.

Important Rules To Remember

• You cannot drive a SORN vehicle except to a pre-booked MOT
• The vehicle must be kept on private land
• SORN does not transfer to a new owner if the vehicle is sold
• You must tax and insure the vehicle again before using it on the road

Abacus Vehicle Hire Advice

At Abacus Vehicle Hire, all vehicles are fully taxed, insured, and road-legal before hire. However, if you own a vehicle and are not using it for a period of time, declaring a SORN can be a useful way to avoid unnecessary running costs while keeping it compliant.