Laying a car up for winter with SORN

Taking the convertible or weekend car off the road from October to March is one of the most common reasons to SORN. Done right, it saves tax and insurance.

Checked against GOV.UK guidance · Updated 25 October 2026

Is it worth it?

For a typical five or six-month lay-up, yes, if the car is kept off the road. You'll get a refund for each full month of tax left and can usually reduce insurance to laid-up cover. For short gaps (a month or two) the saving may not be worth the admin.

Timing it right

• SORN on the last day you'll use it, not before. You can't drive it at all once the SORN starts (except to a pre-booked MOT).
• Refunds are for full calendar months from the date DVLA gets your SORN. SORNing on 31 October rather than 1 November can mean an extra month back.
• If your tax runs out in the month you SORN, the SORN starts on the 1st of next month (when SORN starts).

Insurance

Talk to your insurer before cancelling. Many offer laid-up cover (fire and theft) for a fraction of the cost. Some policies have mid-term cancellation fees that wipe out the saving. Do the sums. See SORN and car insurance.

Storing it over winter

• Keep it in a dry garage with a breathable cover, or on a private drive.
• Use a smart battery charger, or disconnect the battery.
• Pump tyres up a little and leave the handbrake off (chocked, in gear).

Full checklist: looking after a SORN car and our sister site's laying up guide.

In spring

1. Recommission: battery, tyres, fluids, brakes.
2. Check the MOT expiry. If it ran out over winter, book one and drive there insured. See the full record with a full MOT history check.
3. Insure from the first day of use.
4. Tax it. The SORN ends automatically.

Worked example

Your convertible's tax runs to next August. You SORN it on 30 October. The SORN starts immediately and DVLA refunds November to August, ten full months. In March you re-tax it and pay from April (choosing next month as the start), so you've saved roughly five months of tax.