Are you planning to take your car off the road for a while?

You can make a SORN (Statutory Off-road Notification), which informs the DVLA that you are taking the vehicle off the road. Once your vehicle has been declared SORN, you are no longer required to tax or insure it. You might even be able to claim a partial car tax refund.

In this guide, we will cover the processes to follow for making a SORN online, by post and by telephone. We’ll also clarify how to SORN your vehicle when its V5C logbook is missing – and how to remove your car’s SORN status.

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How to SORN your car (step-by-step)

Online

You can make a SORN for your car through the gov.uk website. You’ll need the 11-digit reference number on the front of your V5C logbook . (If you want to SORN your vehicle from the start of the following month, you can use the reference number from your V11 tax reminder.) When the car has been declared SORN, you will receive a refund for any full months’ unused car tax.
By post

If you want to SORN your car by post, you’ll need a V890 form which you can download from the DVLA website and print out. (You can also obtain a copy of this form at your local Post Office.) Complete your V890 form and post it to: DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. You should receive confirmation of your vehicle’s SORN status within four weeks. If you haven’t received confirmation within this timeframe, contact the DVLA to ensure your form has been received.
By telephone

To SORN your car over the phone, you’ll need the reference number from your V5C logbook or V11 tax reminder. Once you have this information, call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321. You should receive confirmation of your vehicle’s SORN status within four weeks. If you haven’t received confirmation after this time, contact the DVLA again.

How to SORN your car without a V5C logbook

If you don’t have your V5C logbook, you will need to apply for a new one (at a cost of £25) before you can SORN your car. You can do this by filling out a V62 form and posting it to the DVLA with a completed V890 form to SORN the car.

How to remove a SORN from your car

If you want to remove your car’s SORN status, you simply need to tax the vehicle. (You cannot tax a car without an MOT, unless it has MOT exemption.)

How long does it take to SORN a car?

Once you have made the decision to declare your car as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), you may be wondering about the timeframe involved in the process. The duration of SORNing your car depends on the method you choose to make the declaration.

Making a SORN online

If you use the reference number from your V5C logbook, the SORN will take effect immediately.
If you use the reference number from your V11 tax reminder, the SORN will take effect on the 1st of the following month.

Making a SORN by post (or by phone)

If you choose to SORN your car by post or over the phone, it may take up to four weeks for the SORN to be implemented. You should receive confirmation by post within this timeframe.

How much does it cost to SORN a car?

You will not be charged for making a SORN for your car – and you may even receive a car tax refund from the DVLA if you have any full months’ outstanding cover.

Reasons you need to SORN your car

You haven’t insured and/or taxed it - and you don’t plan to use it on public roads.
Your car will be off the road for an extended period.
You’ve bought a new car but don’t want to drive it yet.
You’re going to scrap your car or break it up for parts.

Driving with a SORN

It is important to be aware that a SORN is a legally binding statement.

You cannot use a SORN vehicle on public roads unless driving to a pre-booked MOT. However, you cannot drive a SORN car to a MOT without insurance. Therefore, if you do not have cover in place, you should arrange temporary insurance before driving your SORN vehicle to its MOT.

Please note: You cannot drive a SORN vehicle at all if its last MOT highlighted any ‘dangerous’ faults.

For more information, see our guide ‘MOT fines: The law explained for driving with no MOT’.

If you are caught driving a SORN vehicle without a valid reason, you risk facing court prosecution and receiving a fine of up to £2,500.