The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a stern warning to motorists about the importance of taxing vehicles that have been declared off the road through a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) before they are used again. This reminder comes amidst rising incidents of drivers facing significant fines for failing to comply with vehicle tax regulations.

A SORN is a legal declaration made to the DVLA to indicate that a vehicle is not in use on public roads and therefore, does not require tax. While this status exempts the vehicle from taxation, it must also be kept off public roads and cannot be covered by insurance during this period. To reactivate a vehicle for road use, owners must ensure it is duly taxed.

The DVLA stressed the consequences of non-compliance on social media, reminding vehicle owners, “Has your vehicle been declared off-road (SORN) for a while? Don’t forget, if you want to use it on the road again, tax it before you do.” Failure to do so can result in a fine of up to £1,000 or five times the amount of tax chargeable, whichever is higher. Additionally, untaxed vehicles may be clamped, and owners may face further penalties to release them.

The alert comes as statistics show a nearly five per cent increase in the number of cars with SORN status in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. This uptick is indicative of more drivers opting to declare their vehicles off-road, potentially to save on expenses amidst high insurance premiums.

Tim Alcock highlighted the financial pressure on vehicle owners, saying, “Times are tough at the moment and a lot of people are making some difficult decisions when it comes to how to save money.” He cautioned that unless the DVLA is informed and a SORN is properly issued, the vehicle is considered untaxed and subject to fines.

The DVLA’s advisory is particularly pertinent for owners of high-emission vehicles, which face the highest tax bands. For example, vehicles producing more than 255g of CO2 per kilometre, registered post-April 1, 2017, can incur an annual tax of £2,745. Declaring such a vehicle SORN could save owners nearly £3,000 annually in taxes.

With vehicle taxes and environmental regulations becoming increasingly stringent, the DVLA is urging all vehicle owners to stay informed about their obligations under the law to avoid unnecessary financial burdens.