SORN while your car is in for long repairs
Parts delays and big repairs can leave a car off the road for weeks or months. A SORN can save tax, but timing matters.
Should I SORN a car at the garage?
Consider it if the car will be off the road for more than a month or two and you're paying tax and insurance for nothing. If the repair is due in a couple of weeks, keep it taxed. You'd lose the part month anyway and have to re-tax to drive it home.
Is a garage "off the road"?
Yes. A garage forecourt or workshop on private land counts as off the road. Make sure the garage won't park it on the street outside.
Insurance considerations
- If the car's in for an insurance claim, speak to your insurer before you SORN or cancel anything.
- If it's a long mechanical repair, ask about laid-up cover. The car still needs protecting against fire and theft at the garage.
- Don't cancel insurance until the SORN is in place (CIE letters).
Getting it back
When the repair is done:
- Make sure the MOT is valid. If the work was big, an MOT is a good check anyway. A full MOT history check shows when it's due.
- Insure it from the collection day.
- Tax it before driving away. The SORN ends automatically.
Did the garage test drive it?
A SORN car shouldn't be driven on public roads, even for a test drive, except to a pre-booked MOT. Garages with trade insurance and trade plates operate under different rules. Ask how they'll road-test it.
Insurance write-off instead?
If the repair isn't economical and the insurer writes it off, see insurance write-offs and SORN.
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