In the United Kingdom, if you have a car that you are not using on public roads and you don’t want to pay car tax (also known as road tax or car excise duty), you can declare the car as being “off the road” by applying for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Here’s how you can put a car on SORN:
- Online Method:
- Visit the official DVLA website (www.gov.uk/sorn-statutory-off-road-notification).
- You’ll need the 16-digit reference number from your car tax renewal reminder (V11) or the 11-digit reference number from your car log book (V5C).
- Follow the instructions on the website to complete the online SORN application.
- By Phone:
- Call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321.
- Provide the required information, including the 16-digit reference number from your car tax renewal reminder (V11) or the 11-digit reference number from your car log book (V5C).
- By Post:
- Obtain a V890 “Statutory Off Road Notification” form from a local Post Office branch or download it from the DVLA website.
- Fill out the form with the necessary information, including your car details and the reason for declaring the car off the road.
- Include the 16-digit reference number from your car tax renewal reminder (V11) or the 11-digit reference number from your car log book (V5C).
- Send the completed form to the address provided on the form.
After successfully declaring your car as SORN, you’ll receive a confirmation letter from the DVLA. Keep this letter as proof that you’ve declared your car off the road. You can keep the car on SORN for as long as you need, but you’ll need to renew the SORN if it expires and you’re still not using the car on public roads.
Remember that you can’t drive or park a car declared as SORN on a public road. It should be kept on private property, such as a driveway or a garage.
Please note that procedures and requirements might change over time, so it’s always recommended to visit the official DVLA website or contact them directly for the most up-to-date information and instructions for putting a car on SORN.