What is SORN? An explanation of Statutory Off Road Notification

If you own a car or a bike and it’s been a few years since you have had it but maybe the vehicle now has sentimental value and you plan to keep it, but do not wish to drive it out on the road or highway, In this case you will have to inform/notify the DVLA that it’s a car SORN. But do you actually know how it works?

All vehicles or cars or bikes throughout the United Kingdom whether it is being driven regularly or just parked on a public road, even if your vehicle is exempt from any Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), your vehicle will definitely still need to be taxed to use any road or road network in the United Kingdom. However, If a situation arises where you will not be use or be using your car for a while, then you have an option to apply for a Statutory Off Road Notice – or just ‘SORN’ for short. Once you get a SORN notification for your car you will not receive or have to pay any fine for not having taxed your car, you will also not need to pay road tax again until and unless you wish to bring your car back out on the road again. 

SORN came in use for majority of vehicle owners especially during the peak of lockdown that was caused by the Coronavirus Pandemic, as people that were allowed to or needed go out for essential services without having to use their own vehicle and thus were able to avoid paying Road Tax by just getting a SORN for their vehicle. Hopefully lockdowns are now a thing of the past; however this may still be an excellent option for UK Vehicle owners who still work from home and have absolutely no plan on driving their vehicle anywhere in the near future.

A Statutory Off Rad Notification probably isn’t an option if your car/bike is parked out front in your driveway or in the garage or something, but you still manage to drive the vehicle occasionally, because if you do then your vehicle will still need to be taxed. If your Vehicle is deemed unfit to be driven on the road, if you are restoring a classic or just don’t plan on driving for an extended period of time especially during the winter months or if you own a classic/vintage or a sports car then a SORN declaration is most useful for your vehicle.

Once a SORN is done for a car, you need to make sure to keep it on a private driveway, garage or maybe even a storage facility as you will not be able to park it on a public road. As soon as the wheels of a SORN vehicle hit the road it is definitely considered, as driving the car on a public road would need it to be taxed again. Driving a SORN car or without paying the necessary road tax can incur a fine of up to £1,000, with only a single exception: If you’re driving the car to an MoT test that was booked in advance of the journey. 

What are the details required to SORN a vehicle?

To get a SORN car there are few details that you will need to have on hand, like the 11-digit document reference number from the vehicles logbook or a 16-digit reference number/code from a road-tax renewal reminder that you will have received. You will also require the Vehicle Registration Number, the vehicle make and model and finally the effective date from when you want your SORN active.

Once a SORN is done, how long does it last?

Initially when SORN was introduced, Vehicle owners were required to update the SORN on an annual basis. However, more recently it was changed to last indefinitely, and it only expires once the DVLA has been notified that you would like to start paying the road tax again. 

A SORN cannot be transferred from one person to another

As long as Vehicle testers and motor traders make sure to follow certain special conditions then they don’t have to apply for SORN. 

You could consider a Vehicle as SORN under the following conditions:

• If the Vehicle has not insured
• If you do not pal on renewing the road tax
• If your Vehicle has been removed from a public highways
• If you were delayed in insuring your car 
• If you buy a vehicle in order to use it for its parts or spares or renewing a classic vehicle.
• If while purchasing the car the V5C logbook is damaged or lost and no road tax reminder notice/letter was received.