By law, your car needs to be taxed and insured if you drive it and park it on the street [1]
The exception is if you decide you’re not going to drive it at all and will store it off the road in which case you’ll need to get a Statutory Off-Road Notice, or SORN. Once you’re ready to get back behind the wheel, you’ll need to cancel your SORN. Here’s what you need to know if you’re looking to unSORN your car.
EASY AS HACK
To check the tax status of a vehicle, use the DVLA’s tax checker tool. Simply click on the ‘Start now’ button, then enter the car’s registration number. Confirm the car’s details to reveal whether it’s taxed.
WHAT does sorn mean?
SORN stands for Statutory Off-Road Notification. It’s used to let the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know that you’re officially declaring your vehicle as off the road.
If you SORN your vehicle, you won’t have to pay road tax or insurance. So, it can be a good way to save money if you’re not planning to drive your car for a while.
Once your vehicle is declared SORN, you won’t be able to drive or park it on a public road. You’ll need to store it in a garage, driveway or on private land.
A SORN lasts as long as you want it to, provided you’re still the owner of the car and don’t sell, scrap or export it.
when shoUld you sorn YOUR vehicle?
There are various reasons why you might want to declare your vehicle as SORN. These include:
- Your vehicle isn’t taxed
- Your vehicle isn’t insured
- You want to break a vehicle down for parts before scrapping it
- You're restoring or modifying the vehicle as a hobby
- You're a student leaving your car at home while you study away
- You own a classic car that you don't intend to drive on public roads
- Your car isn’t roadworthy, but you can’t afford repairs right now
- You’ve bought a vehicle ready for when you pass your driving test
- You're working or travelling abroad and don’t need to use your car for a while
In situations such as these, a SORN can help you avoid some of the day-to-day running costs of a vehicle.
what happens when you sorn your vehicle?
You can register for a SORN for free online, by phone or by post. You’ll get a refund for any full months of remaining tax, which you should receive within six weeks of making a SORN.
If you do this, you can’t use or store the vehicle on the road until you tax it again. The only exception is if you’re taking it to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. You could face a fine of up to £2,500 [1] if you use a SORN car on the road for any other reason.
how to unsorn your vehicle?
Once you’re ready to get back on the road again, all you need to do is tax your car and your SORN will automatically be cancelled. To unSORN your car, follow these steps:
1. check you have a valid mot
First things first. You’ll need a valid MOT certificate to be able to tax the vehicle. That’s unless your car is less than three years old or over 40 years old [1] with no substantial modifications made to it.
2. make sure you're insured
You’ll also need proof of insurance to tax your vehicle. Even if your vehicle was previously insured, you might need to update or renew your policy. We can help you get a car insurance quote.
3. find the info you need to tax your car
To tax a vehicle, you’ll need either the:
- 11-digit number in your vehicle log book (V5C) or
- 16-digit reference number on your vehicle tax reminder
You can get these from:
- A recent vehicle tax letter from the DVLA
- Your vehicle log book
- The green ‘new keeper’ slip from a log book if you’ve just bought the vehicle
If you don’t have any of these documents, you’ll need to apply for a new log book. You can tax your vehicle at the same time.
4. apply for road tax
There are three ways you can tax your car:
- Online – visit the uk website and follow the instructions on screen
- Phone – call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321. Make sure you have your V5C log book to hand
- Post office – you’ll need to take evidence of a valid MOT along with your V5C log book.
what do you need to do after you've unsorn your car?
To drive on public roads again, you’ll need to make sure your car is in a roadworthy condition. If you haven’t used it for a while, it’s worth giving it a once-over to check everything still works as it should. It can be unsafe even if you have a current MOT certificate.
If you drive an unroadworthy vehicle, you could be fined up to £2,500 and receive three points on your licence. [2]
Once your car is taxed, insured and road-ready, you’re good to go.
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FAQs
how long does it take to unsorn a car?
It only takes a few minutes to tax a car online. Once you’ve done this, your SORN will then be cancelled automatically.
how much does it cost to unsorn a car?
To unSORN a car, you may need to pay for an MOT, insurance and road tax. So, it can be expensive to get your car back on the road again. Road tax is charged at different rates depending on your vehicle’s CO2 emissions and when it was first registered.
can you unsorn a car online?
Yes, you can unSORN a car online. In fact, this is the fastest way to tax your car. You’ll need your V5C registration document, as well as a valid MOT and insurance.
can you unsorn a car without an mot?
Most cars over three years old are required by law to have a valid MOT before they can be taxed.
how soon can you drive your car after taxing it?
You can start driving your car straight away after taxing it online, once you’ve had official confirmation that your application has gone through successfully.
