Get a Free SORN check

Enter the registration number of your car to find out if it has been legally declared as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). This status means the vehicle is off-road and exempt from vehicle tax and necessary insurance. You can also use this service to check vehicle details, including SORN history.

What does SORN mean?

Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is a legal statement to the DVLA that a vehicle is not actively used or parked on public roads. When you declare a car as SORN, it does not have to pay vehicle tax or insurance as long as it is not on the road. Having this status is important for car owners who want to keep their car on private property and avoid additional legal duties.

To make a SORN declaration officially, you can complete the V890 DVLA SORN application form or use the SORN notification service online for faster results.

When Should You Make a SORN Declaration?

• Vehicle took over for disassembly, scrapping, or restoration, such as vintage automobile projects.
• The V5C logbook is missing or destroyed, and a tax reminder has not been sent, affecting legitimate registration.
• If you're no longer using the vehicle, instead of keeping it uninsured and untaxed, simply declare it SORN to stay compliant. If you're planning to tax a vehicle online later, your SORN will automatically end upon payment.
• Use a private garage, driveway, or garden to keep the car off public roads.
• Delays in renewing car insurance will cause it to be off the road.
• The uninsured car is forbidden to drive or park on public roads.

The car will not be authorised on public roads due to the non-renewal of the road tax.

What If You Don't Complete a SORN Declaration?

Missing a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) may have significant consequences. Keeping a car on public roads without tax or insurance may result in severe penalties and driving points. When a vehicle is not in use on public roads, tell the DVLA immediately to avoid legal fines.

Do You Need to Renew Your SORN?

A vehicle's SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) notification is permanent. Until you tax, sell, scrap, or export the car, it will stay off the road.

For SORN status to be valid, the vehicle must stay in the UK. Once the car is overseas, the SORN will no longer apply, and the destination country may have different laws.

SORN Exemptions for Motor Traders

To avoid declaring a SORN for a vehicle, automotive dealers must meet the following conditions:

• The vehicle is only temporarily in their possession.
• Your registered company address keeps the car.
• The prior registered keeper transferred the car to you.

Special exemptions apply to automobile traders, auction houses, car dismantlers, insurers, and loan providers. Without these conditions, the firm may be mandated to declare a SORN to avoid fines.

How to Check If a Vehicle Is SORN Registered?

Enter the car's registration number in the field to verify SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).

The DVLA is alerted that a SORN vehicle will not be used or retained on public roads. Thus, the registered keeper may get a refund on any leftover road tax, whether paid yearly or biannually. This refund usually covers the entire month of unused tax from the SORN's start.

How to Declare SORN on Your Vehicle?

How you apply determines the Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) start date:

• Online or by phone using the V5C (logbook) reference number: Successful applications result in immediate SORN validity.
• Using the V11 tax reminder reference number: SORN will take effect on the first day of the next month, not immediately.
• Postal applications: Specify a future date for SORN start, although no backdating permitted.

Using the right application process guarantees your SORN status begins on time and avoids legal or financial fines.

Methods for Making a SORN Declaration

Three ways to inform the DVLA of a vehicle's SORN status:

SORN via the DVLA Website (Online Method)

The DVLA website offers an online SORN notification.

 Two possibilities will appear depending on your reference number:

• Immediate SORN: Use the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook to declare the car off the road immediately.
• Schedule SORN: Use the 16-digit reference number from your V11 tax reminder to start the SORN on the first day of the next month.

This short, safe method registers your car as off the road with the DVLA.

Declare SORN Using a V5C Logbook (Postal Method)

You can apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) by post without a V5C vehicle registration document (logbook).

Verify all V5C information before applying for SORN. You must amend your DVLA information before making a SORN statement if your name or address is wrong.

Fill out a V62 form to get a new logbook if your V5C is missing. You may declare the car SORN once received.

Make a SORN Over the Phone

You can give the DVLA a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) by calling them directly.

Complete your SORN application over the phone with a DVLA representative at 0300 123 4321. To guarantee a smooth conversation, have your V5C logbook or V11 tax reminder reference number in your easy access.

What Happens After a SORN Declaration?

The DVLA registers a vehicle as off the road after a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). If not driven or parked on public roads, streets, public car parks, or public areas, the vehicle is free from road tax and insurance.

The car must be kept on private property, such as a garage, driveway, or land. A SORN is valid until the car is re-taxed, sold, scrapped, or permanently exported.

Reactivating a Vehicle After SORN

Reactivating a car to public roads requires removing its SORN status. You must tax the vehicle online and usually pass an MOT check and tax requirement before legally driving again. A valid MOT certificate is usually required, unless the vehicle is exempt.

After taxation and roadworthiness, the DVLA lifts SORN status, and the car becomes road-legal.

Driving Abroad After Declaring SORN

Never drive a SORN car back into the UK. You must arrange a trailer or recovery transport to bring the car back into the country.

The SORN must be declared upon arrival if the vehicle will not be used on public roads. When bringing a car overseas, laws vary by country and the duration of stay. Before shipping your car overseas, check the legal and registration requirements.

Vehicle Tax Refunds After Making a SORN

You will get a refund for any complete months of unused vehicle tax if you report your car as SORN. This refund is conducted like a car sale, so no application is needed.

Please remember the following causes that will instantly invalidate your SORN status.

• Re-tax the vehicle
• Sell the vehicle to a new owner
• Scrap the vehicle
• Permanently export the vehicle

To get refunds quickly and prevent compliance issues, update your DVLA information.

Understanding SORN and the askMID Insurance Database

The Police and DVLA employ the askMID (Motor Insurance Database) to validate car insurance. Each vehicle must be either:

• Declared as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), or
• Listed as insured on the askMID database

Without insurance or SORN, a vehicle is legally uninsured, even if not driven. Keeping an uninsured car on public roads is illegal and may result in fines, points, or prosecution.

You must keep proper insurance records or declare a SORN to comply with UK automotive laws. Moreover, perform a VIN check to validate ownership and protect against fraud.