In the vast majority of instances, a SORN declaration is more or less the equivalent of a death certificate for a vehicle. Once a vehicle has been declared SORN, it is almost always taken out of service for good.
Just in case you wondered, SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification – the meaning of which is self-explanatory.
But does this mean that it is impossible to un-SORN a vehicle, if you change your mind at a later date? Or for that matter, what’s the allowance for temporarily declaring a vehicle SORN, with the full intention of bringing it back into use in the future?
Bringing a SORN Vehicle Back to Life
Contrary to popular belief, the short answer is yes – it is perfectly possible to un-SORN a vehicle at any time. Whether initially intended to retire your vehicle permanently or simply took it off the road for a temporary period of time, it’s surprisingly easy to un-SORN a car.
The process is as simple as once again taxing your vehicle in the normal way, using either your V5C registration document or your tax renewal reminder letter. Once your vehicle is taxed, you will need to make sure it has a valid MOT, is covered by an appropriate insurance policy and (of course) is in a good state of repair.
Once these steps have been completed, your car will automatically be registered as un-SORN and can once again be used on public roads. Simply by taxing your vehicle in the normal way, the DVLAs records will be automatically adjusted so as to allow your car to be legally driven once again.
You don’t even have to wait for any formal confirmation – you can drive your previously SORN vehicle immediately after taxing it (assuming you are insured, and it has a valid MOT).
Selling a SORN Vehicle
If you decide instead to sell a vehicle with SORN status, it may be worth considering the benefits of getting it back on the road.
Two things to remember here – the first of which being that a SORN vehicle cannot legally be driven on public roads, and therefore cannot be test-driven by any prospective buyer. Nor will it be possible for them to drive the car away, making for a complex and costly collection process if they choose to buy it…which they probably won’t.
Secondly, the appeal of a SORN vehicle with no MOT is exponentially lower than that of a taxed, tested and ensured car that’s still fit for use on public roads. Something that will likewise influence whether or not your car sells, and how much it sells for.
Responsible Car Scrapping and Recycling…
If all else fails and you’d prefer the quickest and easiest car disposal option, we’re standing by to take your call.
Contact a member of the team at Take My Scrap Car to arrange collection of your vehicle from any location in Norfolk, for which we guarantee a fair price in accordance with scrap values on the day.
