Selling a car that's on SORN

You can sell a SORN vehicle like any other. The key thing to understand is that the SORN ends with you. The buyer has to tax it or make their own SORN.

Checked against GOV.UK guidance · Updated 25 October 2026

Step 1: Prepare the paperwork

• V5C log book in your name and address
• MOT history. Buyers will check it, so check it first with a full MOT history check
• service records and receipts, especially for work done while it was laid up

Step 2: Tell DVLA you've sold it

Use GOV.UK: Tell DVLA you've sold, transferred or bought a vehicle. The online service runs Monday to Friday 7am to 9pm and weekends 7am to 8pm. You'll need the 11-digit V5C reference and the buyer's name and address. Give the buyer the green "new keeper" slip (V5C/2). When you tell DVLA, your vehicle tax is cancelled and any refund is sent automatically. Your SORN ends at the same moment. If you sell or transfer a vehicle without a log book, GOV.UK says to write to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA with your details, the registration, make and model, the exact date of sale and the new keeper's details.

Step 3: Explain the rules to your buyer

• The SORN doesn't transfer. GOV.UK is explicit: a buyer can't take over the previous keeper's SORN.
• The tax doesn't transfer either. The buyer must tax it before driving.
• They can't drive it away untaxed or uninsured. They'll need to tax and insure it first, or collect it on a trailer or transporter.
• No MOT? If the MOT has expired, the buyer can only drive it to a pre-booked MOT, taxed and insured.

Test drives

A buyer can't test drive a SORN car on a public road. Options: show it running on private land, get it MOT'd and taxed before sale, or price it as "SORN, trailer away".

Do I need to SORN a car I'm about to sell?

If it's off the road and untaxed while it's advertised, yes. It must be taxed or SORN while it's yours. Once sold, tell DVLA. You don't need to SORN a vehicle you've already sold, even if a tax reminder arrives.

Selling to a dealer or "we buy any car" style service

Motor traders handle the DVLA notification for trade transfers. Still, make sure you get confirmation that DVLA has been told, and keep the date and time of sale.

After the sale

• You should get confirmation from DVLA that you're no longer the keeper.
• Any tax refund comes to you automatically.
• If you later get letters about the vehicle, see wrong keeper on the record.

More selling tips: selling a car privately.