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SORN: How to Declare Your Car
Off the Road

A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) tells DVLA your vehicle is off the road and not in use on public roads. It is free to declare, cancels your car tax, and stays in effect until you retax the vehicle.

How to Declare a SORN

Online (Recommended)

gov.uk/make-a-sorn

Go to gov.uk/make-a-sorn and enter your 11-digit V5C reference number. The SORN takes effect on the day you apply. You will receive a confirmation email.

By Phone

0300 790 6802

Call DVLA on 0300 790 6802. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Have your V5C reference number ready. The SORN takes effect immediately.

By Post

Form V890

Complete form V890 and post it to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. The SORN takes effect when DVLA receives your letter. Allow several days for postal delivery.

SORN Rules: What You Can and Cannot Do

You CAN:

  • Keep the vehicle on private land (driveway, garage)
  • Work on or repair the vehicle
  • Drive it to a pre-booked MOT on a direct route
  • Cancel and get a refund on remaining car tax months
  • Let the SORN continue indefinitely until you retax

You CANNOT:

  • Drive or park the vehicle on public roads
  • Keep it on a public road, even untaxed (it can be clamped)
  • Use it for any purpose involving a public road
  • Transfer the SORN to a new owner (they must retax it)
  • Use the vehicle commercially under a SORN

Penalties for Not Taxing Your Car

£80 fixed penalty notice

DVLA sends this automatically when your vehicle tax expires and is not renewed. If you pay within 28 days, the fine is reduced to £40.

£160 penalty (if unpaid after 28 days)

The fixed penalty doubles to £160 if not paid within 28 days of the original notice.

Court prosecution and fine up to £1,000

If DVLA pursues the case through the courts, you can face a fine of up to £1,000. This is in addition to any back-tax owed.

Clamping

DVLA enforcement officers and police can clamp any untaxed vehicle found on a public road. There is an immediate release fee. The vehicle remains clamped until you pay the fee and tax the vehicle.

Impounding

If not claimed promptly after clamping, the vehicle is impounded. You then owe the release fee plus daily storage charges.

Crushing

Vehicles that remain unclaimed after impoundment can be crushed and sold for scrap. DVLA must notify you at the registered address before doing so.

How DVLA Enforces Car Tax

DVLA uses an extensive network of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to detect untaxed vehicles on UK roads. These cameras read number plates 24 hours a day and automatically cross-reference them against the DVLA database.

Police also have access to real-time ANPR data and can stop and clamp any vehicle shown as untaxed. There is no grace period after the tax expires - a vehicle is illegal to drive the moment the tax runs out.

DVLA also carries out physical enforcement, deploying officers who can clamp vehicles parked on public roads. Any vehicle registered to an address can receive a fixed penalty notice even if it is never seen by a camera.

SORN FAQs

Can I drive a SORN vehicle to its MOT?
You can drive a SORN vehicle to a pre-booked MOT on a direct route. This is one of the very few exceptions to the 'no driving on public roads' rule. You must have a booked appointment and take the most direct route. You cannot stop off along the way.
Does a SORN vehicle need insurance?
Legally, no. A SORN vehicle is off the road so you are not required to have insurance under the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) rules. However, it is strongly advisable to maintain at least fire and theft insurance to protect the vehicle while it is parked.
Can I SORN a car I have just bought?
Yes. If you buy a car and do not intend to drive it immediately, you can declare a SORN straight away. You will need the V5C/2 new keeper supplement to do this if you have not yet received the V5C in your name.
Does SORN affect my car insurance?
Some insurers will not cover a SORN vehicle at all. Others will offer reduced fire and theft cover. Some policies become void if a vehicle is declared SORN. Check with your insurer before declaring a SORN.
How do I end a SORN?
You end a SORN by taxing the vehicle again. Go to gov.uk/vehicle-tax, enter your V5C reference, and pay for the tax. The SORN is cancelled automatically once the vehicle is taxed.