SORN stands for Statutory Off-Road Notification. A SORN is a declaration made to the DVLA informing them that you are going to take your vehicle off the road, and as a result, don’t want to tax it. During this time, it is illegal to drive your vehicle on a public road.

A vehicle with a valid SORN must be kept on private property, such as on a private driveway or in a garage. The vehicle cannot be kept in a local car park or on a public roadside. Keeping a SORN vehicle on a public road could result in a fine of up to £2,500. The only exception to this is where the vehicle is being driven to a test centre for a pre-booked MOT test.

If you purchase a vehicle that was previously registered with a SORN, the notification will not automatically transfer over. As the new owner, you are legally required to register a new SORN in your name. Similarly, if you are selling a vehicle with a SORN, you should make the new owner aware of the fact that the vehicle has been registered as off the road, and must be re-registered in this way if they are not looking to drive, tax or insure the vehicle.

A SORN is automatically cancelled when the vehicle is taxed, sold, exported or scrapped. You should note that any vehicle going back onto the road must have a valid MOT certificate before going on any journeys (excluding to a test centre for a pre-booked MOT).