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What does SORN mean?

SORN stands for ‘Statutory Off Road Notification’, a term used by the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to indicate that a vehicle is being declared off the road.

Checking the SORN status of a vehicle

To determine if a vehicle is SORNed, you can check by entering your vehicle registration number above.

If a vehicle is registered as SORN, it means the DVLA has been notified that the vehicle will be off the road. As a result, the registered keeper is eligible for a refund on any unused road tax, whether it’s an annual or biannual payment.

Reactivating a vehicle after SORN

If you wish to put a vehicle back on the road, you must remove its SORN status. The easiest way to do this is by taxing and getting an MOT for the vehicle. You can tax a vehicle online.

When to use SORN

A vehicle should be declared SORN under the following circumstances:

  • The vehicle is uninsured.
  • Road tax is not being renewed.
  • The vehicle is stored off public highways, such as in a home garage, driveway, or garden.
  • There are delays in insurance renewal.
  • The vehicle is purchased for parts or scrappage, or for classic vehicle renovations.
  • The V5C logbook is lost or damaged, and no road tax reminder notice has been received.

Consequences of not completing a SORN

Failing to notify the DVLA of a SORN status when required can result in significant fines and penalty points on the registered keeper’s driving licence if the vehicle is found on the road.

Understanding askMID and Insurance Database

The askMID (Motor Insurance Database) is a shared database between the Police and DVLA that records whether a vehicle is insured. Vehicles must either be SORN or listed on the askMID database. Otherwise, the vehicle is considered uninsured. An uninsured vehicle driven on the roads is against the law.

How to report a vehicle as SORN

You can notify the DVLA of a SORN status in three ways:

  1. Online Method:
    • Visit the DVLA website and use the online SORN notification service.
    • Choose between immediate SORN using the 11-digit logbook reference number or scheduling it for the first day of the next month using the 16-digit tax reminder number sent to your address.
  2. By Post:
    • This method is ideal if the vehicle is not registered in your name, such as a newly purchased vehicle.
    • Complete the V890 DVLA SORN application form.
    • Send the completed form to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. Indicate the expected start date of the SORN status and the reason for taking the vehicle off the road. A road tax refund may apply.
    • If declaring SORN more than a month after notification, include a brief letter explaining the delay.
  3. By Phone:
      Call DVLA directly at 0300 123 4321 to declare your intent to make a SORN.

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