Do I need to renew a SORN every year?

No. A SORN lasts until you tax the bike again, sell it, scrap it or permanently export it.

Do I get my motorbike tax back when I SORN?

Yes. DVLA automatically refunds any full months of tax left.

Do I need insurance on a SORN motorbike?

No, a bike that is kept off the road and declared SORN doesn't legally need insurance. Many riders keep laid-up cover for theft and fire.

Can I ride a SORN motorbike to an MOT?

Yes, but only to or from a pre-booked MOT or other test appointment. It still needs to be insured for that journey.

Can I keep a SORN motorbike on the street?

No. A SORN bike must be kept off public roads, for example in a garage, on a drive or on private land.

Rider guides › Tax, SORN and insurance

How to SORN a motorbike

Q: Does a SORN cost anything?

No. Making a SORN is free online, by phone or by post.

Laying the bike up for winter? A SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) lets you stop taxing and insuring it while it's off the road. It's free, takes a few minutes, and you get any full months of tax back.

Last checked against GOV.UK: 1 November 2026

Do you need a SORN?

You need a SORN if you're taking the bike off the road and want to stop taxing and insuring it. "Off the road" means not kept or used on a public road: in a garage, on your drive or on private land.

Yes, SORN it if it will be untaxed or uninsured, even for a short time, or if it's being broken for parts.
Yes, SORN it if you've just bought a bike you're keeping off the road. A SORN doesn't pass from the previous keeper.
No need if you're keeping it taxed and insured over winter, even if you're not riding it. Many riders do this to ride on dry days.
No need if you've sold it and told DVLA. You'll get confirmation that it's no longer yours.

Taxed and insured, or SORN: pick one. A bike with no SORN must be taxed and insured, even if it never moves. Without a SORN, untaxed bikes get an automatic £80 fine.

How to make a SORN

Find your reference number. Use the 11-digit document reference from your V5C log book, or the 16-digit number on your tax reminder (a V11 letter, email or text).
Apply online on GOV.UK's "Register your vehicle as off the road (SORN)" service if the bike is registered in your name. Confirmation is instant.
Or by phone: DVLA's 24-hour vehicle line, 0300 123 4321.
Or by post: send form V890 to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. If you don't have a log book, send a V62 with it (a new log book costs £25).

It's free whichever way you do it.

When it starts, and your tax refund

If you apply…	Your SORN starts
after your tax has run out	straight away
in a month other than the one your tax runs out	straight away
in the month your tax is due to run out	on the 1st of next month

A SORN can't be backdated, so do it before you let the tax lapse.
DVLA automatically refunds any full months of tax left. Part months aren't refunded, so it's worth timing it near the start of a month. Keep your address up to date with DVLA so the refund reaches you.
You can tell DVLA up to two months ahead by post, or use the 16-digit reminder number to start a SORN on the 1st of next month.

The rules while it's SORN

Keep it off public roads. A SORN bike can't be parked on the street, even if you don't ride it.
No riding, except to or from a pre-booked MOT or other test. Riding a SORN bike anywhere else can lead to prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.
Insurance: a bike that's off the road and declared SORN doesn't legally need insurance. An uninsured bike that isn't SORN can mean a £100 fine, clamping or seizure, or a court fine of up to £1,000. Many riders keep cheaper "laid-up" cover for theft and fire, and it's worth asking your insurer, because some policies need it to be kept.
MOT: the MOT doesn't need to be current while it's off the road, but it must be valid before you ride again (apart from riding to a booked test). You'll need insurance for that ride.
No renewing: a SORN lasts until you tax the bike again, sell it, scrap it or permanently export it. The bike must stay in the UK.

Getting back on the road

There's no "unSORN" form. When you tax the bike, the SORN ends. Before you do:

Insure it first. Tax and ride only once cover has started.
Check the MOT. If it ran out over winter, book one and ride only to the test, insured.
Tax it online on GOV.UK with your V5C or reminder. You need a valid MOT to tax it. It can be ridden as soon as the tax is active.
Give it a once-over: tyre pressures and tread, chain, brakes, lights, fluids and battery. Our back on the road in spring guide has a full recommissioning checklist.

Let Tickover handle the dates

Mark your bike as SORN in the app and only insurance reminders carry on. Switch it back in spring and MOT, tax and service reminders return, with a back-on-the-road checklist.

Get early access

Quick answers

Does a SORN cost anything?

No. It's free online, by phone or by post.

Do I have to renew it every year?

No. It lasts until you tax the bike again, sell it, scrap it or export it.

Do I get my tax back?

Yes, any full months left are refunded automatically.

Do I need insurance on a SORN bike?

Not by law, as long as it's declared SORN and kept off the road. Laid-up cover for theft and fire is still worth considering.

Can I ride it to an MOT?

Yes, to or from a pre-booked test only, and it must be insured for that ride.

Can I leave it parked on the street?

No. A SORN bike must be kept off public roads.

Related guides

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change: check GOV.UK before you act. Tickover is independent and not affiliated with the DVLA or DVSA.