If you plan to stop using your car on public roads for any period — perhaps you’re restoring it, letting it sit in a garage, or it’s uninsured — then declaring it Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) is a must. In 2025, the DVLA’s rules remain strict: no SORN means you may be fined, and you continue being liable for tax and insurance.

This guide explains everything UK drivers need to know: what SORN is, when you must do it, how to complete it (online, phone, post), what happens after, and the risks of non‑compliance. We also tie in how your number plates should be managed during SORN.

Tip: While your vehicle is off the road, keep your number plates safe and compliant — you can check or re-order through our Plate Builder.

What Is SORN & Why It Matters

• Definition & Meaning
  
  SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It’s a formal notification to DVLA that your vehicle will not be used or parked on public roads.

• When You Must Make a SORN
  
  You need to apply SORN in situations such as:
  
  • Your vehicle is unused (in garage/drive/private land)
  • You haven’t taxed or insured it, and you cannot do so for now
  • You plan to repair, restore, or dismantle it before deciding what’s next
  • You’re keeping it off-road legally during a sale or after acquisition before use

• What SORN Doesn’t Do
  • It doesn’t “pause” registration — you still hold the number plate rights
  • It doesn’t exempt you from having to store the vehicle on private land
  • It doesn’t allow you to drive it on public roads (except for an MOT or test)

• Penalties & Risks
  
  Driving a vehicle that’s SORN (or should have been SORN) on public roads can lead to fines up to £2,500.
  
  If you park a vehicle on a public road without taxing or declaring SORN, you may receive fines.

How to Make a SORN (DVLA Process)

You can apply in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by post.

Special cases:

• Without V5C Logbook: You may need to apply for a replacement V5C using form V62 (cost £25) before or with your SORN.

• Advance SORN: You can make a SORN up to 2 months in advance using the V11 reference.

After making a SORN, you’ll receive a confirmation letter (typically by post) within 4 weeks.

What Happens After You Declare SORN

• Cancellation of Vehicle Tax

  Once SORN is accepted, your car’s road tax is cancelled. You’re eligible for a refund for any full remaining months of tax already paid.

• Automatic Cancellation Triggers
  
  Your SORN ends when you: tax the vehicle again, sell it, scrap it, or export it.

• Using a Vehicle Under SORN
  
  You can’t drive the vehicle on public roads except to go to a pre-booked MOT or test appointment. Doing so otherwise is illegal.

• Insurance & MOT
  
  Once SORN is active, you are not required to keep insurance or an MOT. But if you intend to bring it back on the road, having a valid MOT & insurance will be necessary before use.

• Storage Location Rule
  
  The vehicle must be kept on private land (driveway, garage). You cannot legally keep a SORN car on a public road.

What About Your Number Plates During SORN?

• The number plate registration remains yours, even while your car is SORN.
• It’s wise to protect or safely store your plates during long-term SORN status.
• If you plan to sell, transfer, or reassign plates, ensure all documentation is ready before SORN is processed.
• During SORN, you can still order replacement legal plates and assign them when the car returns to use.

Example Scenario

Example: John decides to store his classic car during winter. He declares SORN in December using his V11 reminder reference. He receives confirmation within a month, cancels his tax (gets a refund), and parks the car in his private garage. By March, he orders new plates from Easy Number Plates via our Plate Builder to be ready when he returns the vehicle to the road.

Declaring SORN in 2025 is vital if your vehicle is off the road. It protects you from having to pay tax or insurance unnecessarily, ensures you stay legally compliant, and preserves your number plate rights.

Make sure you:

• Choose the right method (online is fastest)
• Use correct reference numbers (V5C or V11)
• Store your plates safely
• Don’t drive it on public roads unless it’s for an MOT/test appointment
• When ready to use again — tax, insure, and ensure MOT is valid

Need to replace or order legal plates before returning your car to the road? Use our Easy Number Plates Builder to design yours instantly.