V890 SORN Form Apply by Post in 5 Minutes.

What is a SORN and Why Do You Need One?

A Statutory Off Road Notification — commonly called a SORN — is a formal declaration to the DVLA that a vehicle is being kept off public roads and will not be driven or parked on a public highway. Once a SORN is registered, you are no longer required to hold vehicle tax (road tax) for that vehicle, and no insurance is needed while it remains off the road.

You might need a SORN if you have bought a vehicle that you are not yet ready to drive, if you are storing a classic or project car in a garage, if a vehicle has failed its MOT and you cannot tax it without a valid certificate, or simply if you want to avoid paying road tax on a vehicle you are not currently using. Many people also apply for a SORN immediately after buying a vehicle privately, before they have arranged insurance or road tax.

It is a legal offence to keep a vehicle on a public road without valid road tax — unless it is the subject of a registered SORN. DVLA can issue a fine of up to £1,000 and can clamp, impound, or crush an untaxed vehicle found on a public road. Registering a SORN protects you as long as the vehicle is kept on private land.

V890 Form: When You Must Apply by Post

Most people can declare a SORN instantly online at gov.uk using the reference number on their V5C logbook or a vehicle tax reminder letter. However, there are several common situations where the online service is not available and you must use the paper V890 form instead.

You must post a V890 form if you have recently bought the vehicle and are not yet the registered keeper on DVLA's records. In this case, you cannot use the online service because it requires the existing keeper's reference number. The same applies if your V5C logbook is lost, stolen, or damaged — without the 11-digit document reference number, the online route is closed to you.

You may also need to apply by post if your name or address on the V5C is out of date, or if you are applying on behalf of someone else. In all of these situations, the paper V890 is the correct route, and our service takes care of completing and posting it for you.

The V890 form must be sent to DVLA Swansea, SA99 1AR. There is no DVLA fee for registering a SORN — it is free to declare. Our £19.95 charge covers the form completion, printing, and Royal Mail postage to DVLA on your behalf.

What Happens After You Apply?

Once DVLA receives your completed V890 form, your SORN is registered and takes effect from the first day of the month in which DVLA receives it. You will receive a confirmation letter from DVLA at your registered address, typically within two to four weeks of posting.

If you have already paid road tax and your SORN is accepted, you may be entitled to a refund for any full calendar months of remaining road tax. DVLA will issue a cheque for the refunded amount automatically — you do not need to request this separately.

A SORN does not expire. Once registered, it remains in place indefinitely until you tax the vehicle again, sell it, have it scrapped, or export it from the UK. You do not need to renew a SORN every year, unlike road tax.

While a SORN is active, the vehicle must be kept on private land at all times. Even temporary parking on a public road — including directly outside your home — is illegal for a SORNed vehicle and can result in the vehicle being clamped or towed by DVLA enforcement officers.

Do You Also Need a V62?

If you do not have a V5C logbook and you want to SORN your vehicle, DVLA requires you to submit a V62 application alongside the V890. The V62 is the form used to apply for a replacement V5C (logbook) — it lets DVLA update their records with your details as the new keeper.

You can apply for both forms through CarForms. Complete the V62 application for your replacement logbook, and the V890 SORN application separately. Both will be printed and posted to DVLA within 48 hours.