SORN and scrapping: what you need to know

When a SORN helps

If a car is untaxed and you are not scrapping it straight away, the law expects it to be either taxed or declared off the road. A SORN covers that gap, and it also starts a refund of any full months of tax left.

A SORN car must be kept off public roads: in a garage, on a drive or on private land. It cannot be parked on the street.

When you do not need one

If the car is collected and scrapped promptly, go straight to telling the DVLA that it has been scrapped. That notification ends your responsibility and triggers any refund, so a SORN would add nothing.

GOV.UK makes the same point about selling: if you have sold the vehicle, you tell the DVLA about the sale instead of making a SORN.

How to make a SORN

If the car is registered to you, the quickest route is the online service. You need either the 11-digit reference from the V5C or the 16-digit reference from a tax reminder (a V11 letter, email or text).

• online, through the DVLA’s SORN service
• by phone on 0300 123 4321, open 24 hours
• by post, using form V890

When a SORN starts

A SORN starts immediately if the tax has already run out, or if you apply outside the month the tax expires. If you apply during the month the tax is due to expire, it starts on the first day of the following month.

Removing parts from a SORN car

If you plan to take parts off a car before scrapping it, GOV.UK says to make a SORN and keep the car off the road while you work. Stop fluids running into the ground or drains, and remember a facility may charge if essential parts such as the engine, gearbox, bodywork or wheels are missing.