SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It is how a keeper tells DVLA that a vehicle isn't being used on public roads, so it doesn't need to be taxed. Plenty of cars for sale are on a SORN, and buying one is perfectly normal as long as you know the rules.
What a SORN means
- The vehicle must be kept off public roads: in a garage, on a driveway or on private land.
- It doesn't need vehicle tax while the SORN is in place.
- It can only be driven on a public road to or from a pre-booked MOT or other test appointment, and it must be insured to do that.
Using or keeping a vehicle with a SORN on a public road can lead to a fine, and the vehicle can be clamped or removed.
When a SORN ends
A SORN is cancelled when the vehicle is taxed, sold, scrapped at an authorised treatment facility or permanently exported. It doesn't pass to a new keeper: when you buy the car, it's up to you to tax it or make a new SORN.
Why cars are on a SORN
Most reasons are innocent: the car was stored over winter, it's a project car, the owner has a second vehicle, or it failed an MOT and is waiting for repairs. But a long SORN can also mean a car that has been off the road with problems, so ask why and how long it has been off the road.
How to buy a SORN car and drive it home
- Check the MOT. If the MOT has expired, you can only drive the car to a pre-booked MOT test. Otherwise arrange a trailer or transporter.
- Insure it before you drive it, in your name.
- Tax it before driving it away. Vehicle tax doesn't transfer from the seller, so use the reference number on the new keeper slip (V5C/2) to tax it online straight away.
- Make sure the V5C is updated so DVLA knows you're the new keeper.
Checks before you buy
A car that has been sitting still needs extra care: check the tyres for cracking, the brakes for seizing and the battery. Look at the MOT history to see what was wrong when it was last tested; a car that failed with a long list of defects and was then declared SORN may need expensive work. Our free check shows the tax status (including SORN), the MOT status and full MOT history.
Key points
- A SORN car must stay off public roads except for a pre-booked MOT.
- The SORN ends when the car is sold; you must tax it before driving it away.
- Check the tax status, MOT status and history before buying. Read why vehicle tax doesn't transfer for the tax rules.
You can check SORN status by registration: our free SORN check shows whether a vehicle is taxed or declared off the road.