Motorists have been issued an important reminder as the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said “holiday’s over”. Brits have been warned that your vehicle must be taxed as soon as you start using it.
In an alert posted to social media platform X, the DVLA stipulated the rules about vehicle tax. This was directed at anyone who had registered their car as off the road – or sorned it recently.
The DVLA said: “Holiday’s over – for your car, that is! If your car’s been off the road for a while (SORN), make sure to tax it first before you start using it again.”
People often choose to SORN their cars if they’re not planning to use it for a while. SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification.
To be eligible to SORN your vehicle must not be left on a public road, so it must be kept in a garage, on a driveway or on private land. It also cannot be driven on a public road.
It is free to do and means you no longer have to pay vehicle tax, which is also known as car tax or road tax. If you’ve already paid for a full year, you will get a refund on the remaining months.
Your SORN will start on the first day of the next month if you apply in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire.
How to tax your vehicle
If you have decided you want to start using your vehicle again on public roads you will need to tax it through the DVLA. To do so you will need a reference number that can be found in:
- A recent vehicle tax reminder or ‘last chance’ warning letter from DVLA
- Your vehicle log book (V5C) – it must be in your name
- The green ‘new keeper’ slip from a log book if you’ve just bought it
On GOV.UK it says: “If you do not have any of these documents, you’ll need to apply for a new log book. You can tax your vehicle at the same time.”
You can tax your vehicle online here or you can call the DVLA vehicle tax service on 0300 123 4321. This phoneline is available 24 hours a day.
You can also tax your vehicle via a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. You need to take either:
- The payment for your vehicle tax
- Your bank or building society account details to set up a Direct Debit
You will not need these payment details if your vehicle is exempt from tax.
You also need to take one of the following:
- Your vehicle log book (V5C) (it must be in your name)
- The green ‘new keeper’ slip from a log book if you’ve just bought it
You might also need to show evidence of an MOT (it must be valid when the tax starts). For example, a screenshot of your vehicle’s MOT history or your MOT certificate, if you have one.
Motorists who do not tax their vehicle can face financial penalties, court action and the risk of having their vehicles clamped or impounded