Motorists could face a £2,500 fine for a vehicle they never drive due to a little-known rule. Mike Thompson, Chief Operating Officer at Leasing Options, warns that owning a car and using it are different, and owners must declare a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) if the vehicle is unused.
Failure to SORN a vehicle means owners must continue paying tax or risk hefty penalties. Thompson explains that collectors or those who own cars as status symbols may not drive them, but they still have legal responsibilities. To avoid paying tax and insurance on an unused car, owners must declare it SORN to the DVLA or face a £2,500 fine.
Once a vehicle is declared SORN, it must be kept off public roads and cannot be driven legally in the UK by the owner or anyone else until the SORN status is lifted. This includes parking on public roads or in car parks; vehicles can only be parked on private property like a driveway or garage.
The only exception to driving a SORN vehicle is to attend a pre-booked MOT test. The RAC notes that declaring SORN can save money if the vehicle is off the road, as it avoids paying vehicle tax and insurance.
