How to insure your 'SORN' laid-up car or bike
'Statutory Off Road Notification' or 'SORN' is the DVLA's catchy name for the process of reclaiming the car tax payable on your vehicle while it is not being used on public roads. And it's worth knowing about, because once you have confirmation from the DVLA that a SORN is in effect, you will receive an automatic refund of the road tax for any full months' remaining on your car.
"Your SORN is valid until your vehicle is taxed, sold, scrapped or exported. Your vehicle must remain in the UK for your SORN to be valid."
Do I need to insure my car if it is 'off road' under a SORN?
Strictly speaking, no you don't - if the vehicle is not being used on public roads, there is no Road Traffic Act requirement for third party cover to be in force on your car, van or motorbike while it is laid up. But...the car itself is not insured against fire or theft unless you take out a specialist SORN insurance policy.
Does SORN insurance cover fire and/or theft of the vehicle?
Yes - SORN insurance policies only cover the car or bike while it is 'laid up' and not being used on public roads - as soon as the car is taxed again, you will need to insure it under a conventional car insurance policy.
You can declare a SORN if you don’t use or keep your vehicle on a public road, so if you keep it in a garage, on a drive or on private land, a SORN will enable you to reclaim your car tax. And of course - you don’t have to buy vehicle tax if you have a SORN in place.
SORN insurance - resources
How to make a SORN declaration
Visit the Government's own website for full details of the SORN process here.
Download the SORN document
You can download the relevant SORN document - V890 - here
Apply for a SORN online
You can now notify the DVLA online that your vehicle is laid up and off the road using their new SORN website.
If you are looking for 'cheap' SORN insurance, QuoteRack's specialist insurance brokers will help you - just hit the 'Click for SORN Insurance' link to complete your details online.
Click for
SORN Insurance
"If your car is off road, laid up and not in use on public roads, it makes sense to insure it against fire and theft."
"Laid-up insurance is a specialist area and cover is available now from insurance brokers who can provide competitive SORN insurance quotes."