How to UnSORN a Car?

If your car has been declared off the road via a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) and you’re ready to drive again, you’ll need to cancel the SORN officially. The process might sound daunting, but in reality, it’s straightforward when you know the steps. Let’s break down everything you need to know about how to unSORN a vehicle in the UK.

What Does SORN Mean?

Before we dive into the process, it’s worth quickly revisiting what SORN actually means.

• A SORN is a way to let the DVLA know that you’re not using or parking your vehicle on public roads.
• During this period, you won’t need to pay vehicle tax or insurance.
• Please note that your car must be parked on private property, such as a driveway or garage.

When the time comes to get your car back on the road, you’ll need to remove it from SORN officially.

When Do You Need to UnSORN a Car?

You’ll need to remove a SORN if:

• You’re looking forward to hitting the roads in your car again.
• You’ve repaired or restored the car, and it’s roadworthy.
• You plan to sell the car, and the buyer wants to drive it away.
• You’re moving the vehicle to another location via public roads.

Simply put, the car cannot legally touch public roads until the SORN has been lifted.

How to UnSORN a Vehicle in the UK?

The DVLA doesn’t have a dedicated “unSORN” form you need to fill in. Instead, the process of taking a vehicle off SORN is tied to taxing your car again. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Make Sure Your Car Is Roadworthy

Before you even think about applying for tax, ensure your vehicle has:

• A valid MOT (if applicable).
• Up-to-date insurance.

Without these, you’ll miss out on the opportunity to tax the vehicle, so ensure you have everything in place.

Step 2: Apply for Vehicle Tax

Once you’ve arranged your MOT and insurance, you’re all set to tax your vehicle! Taxing it will automatically cancel the SORN. You can do this:

• Online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax using your V5C logbook or V11 reminder.
• By phone with the DVLA.
• At a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax.

Step 3: Receive Confirmation

Once you’ve finished the process, your SORN is automatically lifted. You’ll receive confirmation that your vehicle is now taxed, making it legal to drive on public roads once more.

If you have a larger vehicle you no longer need but you don’t want to go through the hassle to SORN your vehicle, you can easily scrap your van with our reliable service.

Key Things to Keep in Mind

• No grace period: Once you’ve taxed your vehicle, you can drive it straight away, but not before.
• Refunds: If you had any remaining months of road tax before declaring SORN, you won’t get those back when you unSORN the car.
• Penalties: Driving without removing the SORN is illegal and can result in hefty fines.

How to Remove a SORN Without Driving?

You don’t need to go anywhere to lift a SORN physically; everything can be done online or by phone. This means if you’re preparing the car for use but haven’t moved it yet, you can sort out the paperwork in advance.

For example, if you’ve kept your car unused during winter and now want to take it back out, you can apply for tax online in minutes and be legally ready to drive as soon as it’s confirmed.

Common Mistakes People Make When UnSORNing a Car

Even though the process is simple, many car owners stumble because of:

• Forgetting to get valid insurance before trying to tax the car.
• Attempting to drive the car to the MOT test without lifting the SORN (you can only legally drive to a pre-booked MOT test).

Misunderstanding that you don’t need a separate “unSORN” application, taxing the car is enough.

Final Thoughts

Knowing how to unSORN a car in the UK is crucial if you want to get your vehicle legally back on the road. The process isn’t complicated; it’s simply about taxing your car again, ensuring it’s insured and has a valid MOT. By following the steps above, you’ll avoid fines and make sure you’re driving safely and legally.

And if you’ve decided your old car isn’t worth the trouble of bringing it back on the road, you can always search for “scrap my car online in the UK” or use our trusted services for a quick, hassle-free solution.