After you SORN: what happens next
Your SORN is in. Here's what happens to your tax, insurance and MOT, and what to do when you want to use, sell or scrap the vehicle.
- Your tax refundHow much, when it arrives and who it goes to.
- Taxing it againGetting back on the road legally.
- MOT and SORNDo you need one, and driving to the test.
- SORN and insuranceCan you cancel, and laid-up cover.
- Looking after a SORN carStorage, battery, tyres and security.
- Selling a SORN carWhat the buyer needs to know.
- Buying a SORN carGetting it home legally.
- Scrapping a SORN carATFs, certificate of destruction, refunds.
Straight after your SORN
- Tax: DVLA cancels your vehicle tax and any Direct Debit automatically.
- Refund: you'll get a refund for each full month of tax left, sent to the name and address on the V5C (GOV.UK).
- Insurance: the vehicle is now excluded from continuous insurance enforcement. Speak to your insurer before cancelling. You may want laid-up cover.
- Road use: none, except driving to or from a pre-booked MOT or test, insured.
DVLA cancels the tax when told about a SORN, sale, scrapping, write-off or export, then refunds every full month left to the name and address on the V5C.
- You tell DVLASORN, sold, scrapped, written off or exported
- Tax cancelledplus any Direct Debit
- Refund: each FULL monthsent to the name and address on the V5C · chase after 8 weeks
While it's off the road
A SORN lasts indefinitely, so there's nothing to renew. But a vehicle that sits still deteriorates. Our looking after a SORN car guide covers batteries, tyres, fluids and security. Note any MOT advisories now. A full MOT history check shows what the tester flagged last time, so you can fix it before the car goes back on the road.
When you want to use it again
Check the MOT and book one if expired, driving only to the pre-booked test; insure it; then tax it, which cancels the SORN.
- Is the MOT valid?if not, book one and drive only to the pre-booked test
- Insure itfrom the first day of use
- Tax itV5C, V11 reminder or green new keeper slip
- SORN ends automatically
Follow three steps: MOT (if expired), insurance, then tax. Taxing the vehicle cancels the SORN automatically. Full guide: taxing a car after SORN.
If you sell, scrap or export it
- Selling: tell DVLA you've sold it. The SORN ends and the buyer must tax it or make their own SORN (selling a SORN car).
- Scrapping: use an authorised treatment facility. You'll get a certificate of destruction and DVLA is told (scrapping).
- Exporting permanently: tell DVLA. A SORN only covers vehicles kept in the UK (working abroad).
Something gone wrong?
See refund not received, SORN not showing, or our full list of problems and fixes.
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