Riding a motorbike is a thrilling experience, but some motorcyclists may only want to ride their machines on certain occasions. You may decide you no longer want to tax or insure your motorbike and keep it off the road until you can sell it. If you aren’t planning on keeping your motorbike on the road all year round then you’ll need to declare the vehicle as being SORN. This comes with a set of considerations and we’ve put together a guide on how to SORN your motorbike.
What is a SORN?
A SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) is a declaration made to the DVLA that shows you motorbike is being kept off the public road. This means you won’t be renewing your tax disc and a SORN is valid until the motorbike is taxed, sold or scrapped.
How do I SORN my motorbike?
There are two ways to SORN your motorbike. Either complete a V890 application https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/v890-statutory-off-road-notification-sorn and post it to the DVLA or apply online.
Does it cost anything?
You won’t be charged anything for declaring a SORN. It lasts for 12 months from the application and is cancelled when you tax your motorbike again.
What happens if I don’t declare my bike as SORN?
If you don’t make a SORN then you can face a number of consequences:
| Offence | Penalty |
| Being the registered keeper of an untaxed vehicle | A Late Licensing Penalty (LLP) letter is issued automatically.
LLP set at £80 reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days. If the penalty is not paid, the case will be referred to a debt collection Agency. |
| Using or keeping an untaxed vehicle without a SORN. | Out of Court Settlement (OCS) letter issued.
OCS set at £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding vehicle tax rate. If settlement is not paid, as a criminal offence the case may be pursued via the Magistrates Court. Penalty is the greater of £1,000 or five times the amount of tax chargeable. Vehicle may be clamped. |
| Using or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road with a SORN in force. | Out of Court Settlement (OCS) letter issued.
OCS set at £30 plus twice the outstanding vehicle tax. If settlement is not paid, as a criminal offence the case may be pursued via the Magistrates Court. Penalty is the greater of £2,500 or five times the amount of tax chargeable. Vehicle may be clamped. |
Source: https://www.nationalnumbers.co.uk/dvla-guide/penalties-non-sorn-81.htm
Can I tax my motorbike again after it’s SORN?
You can do this by applying for a new tax disc online or at a Post Office. It’s worth looking into different types of motorbike road tax.
