SORN, sell or scrap? How to decide
A car sitting unused costs money, in tax, insurance and depreciation. Here's how to choose between keeping it SORN, selling it or scrapping it.
The three options at a glance
| SORN | Sell | Scrap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost to do | Free | Free (ad costs vary) | Usually free at an ATF |
| Tax refund | Full months left | Full months left | Full months left |
| DVLA step | Make a SORN | Tell DVLA it's sold | Tell DVLA it went to an ATF |
| Keep the car? | Yes | No | No |
| Ongoing costs | Storage, optional laid-up cover | None | None |
SORN makes sense when...
- you'll use it again (seasonal, project, abroad for a while)
- you have somewhere off the road to keep it
- it's worth more to you than to a buyer
Guide: should I SORN my vehicle?
Selling makes sense when...
- you won't use it again in the next year
- it passes, or nearly passes, an MOT. Check the history to see what buyers will see with a full MOT history check
- it's depreciating faster than you'd like
Guide: selling a SORN car.
Scrapping makes sense when...
- repair costs exceed its value (check the last MOT failure list)
- it's been off the road so long that recommissioning would be expensive
- you've already taken the parts you need
Guide: scrapping a SORN car.
The hidden costs of "just leaving it"
A car left untaxed with no SORN risks an £80 penalty and insurance enforcement letters. A car left on SORN in the open deteriorates: tyres crack, brakes seize, batteries die. If you're undecided, SORN it today (it's free and stops the fines), then decide properly.
Taking it off the road, or putting it back on?
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