Can you drive a SORN car to an MOT without insurance?

If you have a SORN car that you need to get MOT’d, you might be wondering, “Can you drive a SORN car to an MOT without insurance?” The answer to this question is pretty clear: it’s a resounding no. Driving a vehicle with a SORN, and driving without insurance, are both illegal in the UK, with almost no exceptions.

But since an MOT is usually vital when you want to get a SORN car back on the road, we’re going to look at the conditions you need to fulfil to get your car to a test centre.

We’ll clarify what a SORN means for the way you use your vehicle, explain how to get a SORN car to its MOT, and look at the other essential steps to take before your car makes its return to public roads.

What is a SORN?

A SORN, or a Statutory Off Road Notification, tells the DVLA that your vehicle is not being driven (or parked) on public roads. If your car is declared off road, you don’t have to pay tax or insurance.

SORNs are typically used when:

• You aren’t using your vehicle and want to save money on car insurance and tax
• There’s been a delay in your tax or insurance, for example, because of a complication with your insurance policy renewal
• You plan to scrap your vehicle, but you want to use or sell some of the parts first
• Your vehicle doesn’t fulfil the requirements to drive on public roads — for example, because you’re in the process of repairing, restoring, or modifying it

SORN cars are usually stored on private land, in driveways, or in garages. They can’t be driven on public roads because they’re not taxed or insured.

This is crucial to the question of getting your car to its MOT, so let’s take a look in a little more detail.

Can you drive a SORN vehicle to an MOT? 

There’s only one exception to the law about not driving a SORN car, and that’s the MOT appointment. (But you still need to have insurance!)

If you’re asking, “Can I drive a SORN car to the garage for repairs?” the answer is no, and the only solution would be to arrange a tow. You can only drive a SORN car to an MOT, and not any other type of service or repair.

And even though you can drive a SORN car to an MOT, you’ll have to fulfil some essential conditions before you set out.

• Your SORN car must be insured for the journey to the MOT. Without insurance, you cannot legally drive your vehicle, and that includes the journey to the MOT appointment. Driving a SORN vehicle to an MOT without insurance is still an offence.

• The MOT must be pre-booked. You should make the appointment in advance and carry proof of the booking with you in case the police stop you during your journey.

• You must take a direct route to the test centre. You should drive to the MOT centre without making stops, taking detours, or running errands. A common question is, “How long can you drive a SORN car to an MOT?” but the issue here is less about the overall distance and more about keeping your route as short as possible.

• The car must not have dangerous faults. For example, if your car failed its MOT for a dangerous fault and you took it off the road while you had the problem fixed, you won’t be able to drive it to the garage for a retest. The only option here would be to have the vehicle towed.

Put simply, If your car is off the road but not dangerous, you book the appointment in advance, and get car insurance with a minimum of third-party cover for the day of the MOT, you can make the journey in a vehicle with a SORN.

Can I drive my car to an MOT without tax and insurance?

Another common question from people with SORN cars is, “Can I drive an untaxed car to an MOT appointment?”

Similar to the rules around driving SORN cars, the only situation where it’s permitted to drive an untaxed vehicle is to a pre-booked MOT appointment. You can drive an untaxed vehicle to an MOT, but only because it’s usually impossible to tax a car without a valid MOT certificate. 

As above, you’ll have to drive to the MOT appointment directly, carry a booking confirmation, and arrange car insurance before you set off on your journey. 

How do you insure a SORN vehicle for its MOT?

If you need to insure your SORN vehicle for its MOT, temporary car insurance policies are a common solution. This short-term cover can protect you for as little as an hour, so it can be a good option for the day your MOT is booked.

Remember, you’ll have to make sure your vehicle is insured for the journeys both to and from the MOT. For example, you might arrange 24 hours of temporary car insurance to get you to the test centre and back, and then get an annual policy after you have your MOT certificate and your car is back at home.

Does a car with a SORN need to be insured?

So far, we’ve focused on two main questions: Does a SORN car have to be insured? and Can you drive a SORN car to an MOT without insurance? But there’s also the question of insuring your car while it’s off the road.

While many people get SORNs to save the cost of insuring a car they don’t drive, there are plenty of situations where car owners still want some protection for their vehicle while it sits in their drive or garage. A common example would be a classic car that’s been declared off-road because you only drive it to events and meetups, or a vehicle that you’re restoring over time.

Specialist insurers will often offer “laid-up” insurance for SORN vehicles. The details of the policies will vary, but this type of SORN insurance generally covers:

• Accidental damage — for example, from dropping a tool and damaging the bodywork
• Fire
• Theft

The costs of SORN insurance are typically lower because you won’t be driving the vehicle and it should be parked off the road. This drastically reduces the chances of it being damaged in a collision or by a passing driver or cyclist. It’s also worth noting that SORN policies are more likely to be a form of agreed value car insurance, as standard insurance policies might undervalue a car that needs some restoration to bring it back to its former glory.

Importantly, laid-up insurance is unlikely to cover you to drive the vehicle. These policies won’t cover injury or damage to someone else’s property, so you’ll still need to take out a policy with a minimum of third-party cover when you want to drive to your MOT appointment.

Read more: Do I need to insure an off-road car?

Remember, there are many different penalties surrounding SORN, uninsured or untaxed vehicles, so it’s vital to make sure that you’ve notified the correct offices, arranged the right cover for your vehicle, and stored it properly.

For example, there’s:

• An £80 fixed penalty notice for failing to get a SORN for an uninsured or untaxed vehicle
• A potential £2,500 fine for driving a SORN vehicle, with the only exception being to the MOT appointment while it’s insured
• A minimum £300 fine and six points on your licence for driving without insurance, though this can be much higher depending on the circumstances
• A £1,000 fine (or five times the chargeable amount of tax) for driving without valid car tax

Getting your SORN car back on the road

If getting your SORN vehicle to its MOT is part of getting it back on the road, let’s take a look at the rest of the boxes you’ll need to tick.

In order to drive legally on public roads, your vehicle will need:

• A valid MOT certificate, if required. Cars less than three years old (and some classic cars) are exempt from needing an MOT, but the majority of vehicles will need an annual MOT.

• Car insurance. In addition to the trip to and from the MOT, your car will need insurance if you’re going to start driving more regularly. You can weigh the benefits of the three types of insurance in the UK, and consider low-mileage or pay-as-you-go insurance for a car you’re only going to drive from time to time.

• Road tax. You can tax your car online through the government's vehicle tax service, as long as you have the reference number from your V5C log book and proof that your car meets the legal requirements.

There’s no need to cancel your SORN before you start driving again. When you tax your vehicle, it should cancel automatically.

SORNs and MOTs: A quick summary 

Driving a SORN car to an MOT without insurance is illegal and could land you with some severe penalties, but you can get your car temporarily insured to take it to its pre-booked MOT appointment. Because any SORN insurance that protects your car from fire, theft, or accidental damage might not cover you to drive on public roads, it’s vital to check that the policy you use for your MOT has a minimum of third-party cover.

For temporary car insurance or a new annual policy, talk to the experts at Howden.

Also read:

• SORN my car: How to declare your vehicle as off t–he road
• How to tax a car: Your complete guide
• How to check your car insurance expiry date

READ MORE OF OUR CAR INSURANCE GUIDES