SORN explained: rules for buying a car that is off the road
What a SORN means, why it ends when a car is sold, how to get a SORN car home legally, and the fines for keeping an untaxed car on the road.
Updated
A SORN, or Statutory Off Road Notification, tells DVLA that a vehicle is kept off the public road, so it does not need to be taxed or insured. For a buyer, three rules matter. A SORN car cannot be driven or parked on a public road, except to go to or from a pre-booked MOT. The SORN ends when the car is sold, so it does not pass to you. And you must either tax the car or make your own SORN.
Cars on SORN turn up for sale all the time: project cars, cars stored over winter, cars that failed an MOT. None of that is a problem in itself. You just need a plan for getting the car home and making it legal.
What a SORN means
GOV.UK says a vehicle is off the road if you do not keep or use it on a public road, for example if it is in a garage, on a drive or on private land. A keeper must make a SORN if:
- the vehicle is not taxed
- the vehicle is not insured, even for a short time
- they want to break a vehicle down for parts before scrapping it
- they buy or receive a vehicle and want to keep it off the road
A SORN starts immediately or on the first day of the next month, depending on when the tax runs out, and it cannot be backdated. It does not need renewing. It is cancelled automatically when the vehicle is taxed again, or when it is sold, permanently exported or scrapped.
Where a SORN car can and cannot be
| Situation | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Kept in a garage, on a drive or on private land | Yes |
| Parked on a public road, even outside the keeper's house | No |
| Driven to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment | Yes |
| Driven anywhere else on a public road | No |
GOV.UK says you could face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you use a SORN vehicle on the road for any reason other than a pre-booked test. The car must also be insured for that trip to the MOT.
A SORN does not transfer to you
GOV.UK is clear that you cannot transfer a SORN from the previous keeper. The moment the seller tells DVLA about the sale, their SORN ends. From then on the car is yours to tax or declare off the road.
So when you buy, you have two choices:
- Tax it with the reference on the green new keeper slip, if you plan to use it.
- Make a new SORN in your own name, if you will keep it off the road for now. GOV.UK says you can do this online once the vehicle is registered in your name, by phone, or by post with form V890.
Tax does not transfer either. Our guide to change of keeper covers what the seller does and what you get.
How to get a SORN car home
There are three legal ways to move a car that is on SORN, or that is not taxed.
Tax it, insure it, then drive it
If the car has a current MOT, or does not need one, you can tax it online with the green slip reference as soon as the sale is done. Arrange insurance first. You can then drive it home like any other car.
Drive it to a pre-booked MOT
If the MOT has run out, the only journey you can make on the road is to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment. Book the test first, insure the car and go straight there. If it fails with a "dangerous" problem, GOV.UK says it must be repaired before it is driven, and driving it can mean a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points. Have a plan for repairs at the test centre or a trailer home.
Carry it on a trailer or transporter
A car carried on a trailer or a vehicle transporter is not being driven on the road. It is a common way to move project cars and cars with no MOT. Treat towing on a rope or A-frame differently: the towed car is on the road on its own wheels, so check with DVLA and your insurer before you rely on it.
Fines for an untaxed car
If a vehicle is not taxed and has no SORN, GOV.UK says the keeper will automatically be fined £80 for not having a SORN. There is a separate fine for an uninsured vehicle. If a DVLA fine is not paid on time, GOV.UK warns that the vehicle could be clamped or crushed, or the keeper's details passed to a debt collection agency.
After paying a fine, the keeper still has to tax and insure the car, make a SORN, or tell DVLA they no longer have it.
Checks before buying a SORN car
- Check the SORN and tax status on the GOV.UK vehicle enquiry service before you travel. Our SORN check page explains how and what the result means.
- Check the MOT history. A car that has been on SORN for years may need significant work to pass. Look at the last tests and the advisories, and see our MOT advisory checker for what common advisories mean.
- Check the logbook as normal. Watermark, serial number, VIN and engine number. See the V5C logbook guide.
- See the car and ask a mechanic. Tyres, brakes and fluids all suffer when a car stands still for a long time.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive a SORN car home after buying it?
Only after you have taxed and insured it, which needs a valid MOT if the car requires one. Otherwise the only journey allowed is to or from a pre-booked MOT, or you carry it on a trailer.
Does SORN transfer to a new owner?
No. GOV.UK says you cannot transfer a SORN from the previous keeper. Tax the car or make your own SORN.
What is the fine for driving a SORN car?
GOV.UK says you could be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500 for using a SORN vehicle on the road for any reason other than going to or from a pre-booked MOT or test.
Can a SORN car be parked on the street?
No. A SORN vehicle must be kept off the public road, for example in a garage, on a drive or on private land.
Do I need to renew a SORN?
No. A SORN lasts until the car is taxed again, sold, permanently exported or scrapped.