The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a clear warning to motorists this week, urging them to consider whether their car needs to be taken off the road. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the DVLA reminded drivers of the requirement to inform it if their vehicle is no longer in use.
It also directed people to the GOV.UK official website, where it urged people to find out more information on how to register a vehicle as off the road - a process known as Statutory Off Road Notification, or SORN. On the page 'Register your vehicle as off the road', the DVLA explained that a SORN is necessary when a vehicle is not being taxed or insured, and is not being kept or used on a public road.
It added: "Your vehicle is off the road if you do not keep or use it on a public road, for example, if it’s in a garage, on a drive or on private land."
If you have received a vehicle tax reminder for a car you have already sold, there is no need to submit a SORN. Once the DVLA is notified of the sale, it will send you confirmation that you no longer own the vehicle. However, if you have not registered a SORN, you still need to insure and tax the vehicle as failing to do so will incur an automatic £80 fine for not having a SORN, along with a separate penalty for keeping an uninsured vehicle.
