If you have a car that you are not using on the road, whether you just don’t want to drive it for a while or don’t want to drive it forever, you may want to consider declaring it as off-road. In the United Kingdom, the process of declaring a vehicle as off-road is known as SORN. What is SORN? How do you SORN your car with the DVLA?
About SORN
SORN is the abbreviation of Statutory Off Road Notification. It is the official way to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or DVLA that you are taking your car off the road. Basically, it means you will not be using your car on any public roads. However, you are still able to drive it on private land or keep it in the garage. After declaring a SORN, remember to not park your car outside your house, even if you don’t plan to use it because notifying DVLA that your car is off road means agreeing that your vehicle is totally off the road whether it is moving or not. Once again, a SORN car should be placed in either a garage or on private land.
Reasons Why You Have to SORN Your Car
Every car owner in the United Kingdom must insure and tax their vehicle. If the item is not taxed or insured, the government of the United Kingdom will think that the vehicle is in use on the roads, unless the owner SORN it. If it is SORN by its owner, the government will be aware that it is not in use on public roads without road tax and insurance. It is such a good thing because the owner will not be required to pay for both tax and insurance.
Actually, it is possible for you to take your car off the road right away if you don’t tax it or pay its insurance. However, you should make a SORN declaration to the DVLA after doing so, unless you want to get fined.
In general, here are some common situations when someone wants to SORN their car:
- Your car is not taxed and you do not have a plan to use it.
- Your car is not insured and you do not have a plan to use your car.
- You have a plan to scrap your car or break it for parts.
- You have purchased a new car but you do not want to use it yet.
- You have a project car that is not running.
- Your car will not be used for a while.
Cost of SORNing a Car
Declaring your car as SORN is free. It is such a good thing because it means you don’t have to pay for anything. Depending on how long it has left, you may even get a tax refund.
SORNing Your Car with the DVLA
There are a few methods to SORN your car with the DVLA, as follows:
Online:
SORNing your car can be done through the official website of the United Kingdom government at https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn. Before SORNing your car, please get your V5C logbook to get the 11-digit reference number. It should be easy for you to find such a number because it is located on the front of the book. For those who want to SORN your car from the start of the next month, find your V11 tax reminder to get the reference number. Once your car is declared SORN by the DVLA, you will get a refund for any full months’ unused car tax.
By post:
In order to SORN your car by post, the first thing that you have to do is to get a V890 form that is available to download from the official website of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or DVLA at here. Once you have successfully downloaded the form from the website, print it out. Actually, it is not the only way to get a V890 form. Besides, you can also visit your local post office to get one. Now that you have the form in hand, complete it. Once you are done completing the form, post it to the following address:
| DVLA Swansea, SA99 1AR |
After posting a V890 form to the DVLA, you should receive confirmation of the SORN status of your car within four weeks. In case you don’t receive one within four weeks, you are encouraged to reach out to the DVLA to ensure your form has been received.
By telephone:
If you want to SORN your car over the phone, open your V5C logbook or V11 tax reminder to find the reference number. After having this information, dial the DVLA vehicle service telephone number at 0300 123 4321 on your phone. Feel free to call the number anytime you want because it is a 24-hour service. Within four weeks, you should be informed about the SORN status of your car. In case you don’t get such information after four weeks have passed, please contact the DVLA again.
Without a V5C logbook:
For anyone who wants to SORN your car but don’t have a V5C logbook, it will be needed for you to apply for a new one before you can SORN your car. In case you are wondering how much a V5C logbook costs, it is £25. After getting a new V5C, you have to fill out a V62 form and once you have filled it out, send it via post to the DVLA. Apart from the V62 form, you should also post your V890 form to be able to SORN your car.
Driving a Car that Has Been SORNed
As stated earlier, SORN is known as the official way to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or DVLA that you are taking your car off the road. It means it is a legally binding statement. There is no way for you to drive a SORN car on public roads. If you get caught using a SORN car without a valid reason, don’t get surprised if you face court prosecution and get a fine of a maximum of £2,500.
Actually, there is an exception. You are allowed to drive a SORN car on one occasion, which is when you are on your way to a pre-booked MOT. However, you should get your car insurance to be able to do that. If you don’t have insurance, you are recommended to arrange temporary insurance before going to the MOT test by driving your SORN car.
Canceling a SORN
If you want to cancel a SORN, all that you have to do is to tax your car again. Before buying a car tax, make sure to get an MOT certificate. In order to get this kind of certificate, your vehicle has to go through an MOT test. Keep in mind that you are allowed to drive your SORN car when driving directly to or from a pre-booked MOT test.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, it is really easy to declare your car as off-road through a Statutory Off Road Notification or SORN with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency or DVLA. The process can save money on road tax and insurance when your car is not used on public roads. When SORNing your car with the DVLA, make sure to have the necessary information on hand. Aside from that, you should also make sure to follow the guidelines given by the agency carefully. By doing so, you will be able to enjoy the benefits of SORN status for your off-road car while at the same time you are still following the law.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
