How can I SORN my bike?

You don’t have to tax or insure your motorbike if you take it off the public roads — provided you let the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) know your plans. A Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) registers your vehicle as officially out of commission. 

You won’t be able to drive your motorbike on public roads while a SORN is in place. However, if you have no plans of doing this, making a SORN can save you money in both taxes and insurance.

If your next question is so, how can I SORN my bike? you’ll be pleased to know that it’s a simple process and one that can be beneficial, provided you stick to the rules.

In this article, we’ll take you through:

• Why to make a SORN for your motorbike
• How to make a SORN for your motorbike — and how much it costs

Read on.

Why to make a SORN for your motorbike

If you want to drive a motorbike on UK roads, you need to tax it. This kind of tax is called vehicle excise duty (VED). It’s also a legal requirement in the UK that you drive without at least third-party insurance in place. Having a SORN in place means you are exempt from both taxes and insurance.

But you can only get a SORN in specific instances.

Should I SORN my motorcycle?

If you’re sure you’re taking it off the road, it’s important to SORN your bike to ensure that you save on taxes and insurance.

According to the DVLA, you must SORN your motorbike if:

• Your motorbike is not taxed. You don’t have to tax a vehicle if you’re not driving it and/or it’s not parked on a public highway. 

If you’ve taken it off the road and it’s parked on your private property or in a garage, you need to get it declared SORN. If you don’t, you’ll still be liable for tax payments.

It’s important to note that you still have to tax your vehicle even if you don’t have to pay tax on it (as is the case for vehicles built before 1 January 1984, as long as you’re not earning money off them). If your vehicle is not properly taxed, you could be fined and receive penalties.

• Your motorbike is not insured. If, for example, you’ve had trouble renewing or getting a policy, your bike may not be insured for reasons other than that you’ve taken it off the road.

• You’re scrapping your bike and want to break it down for parts first.

It’s also important to note that if you have recently bought a motorbike you want to keep off the road, it’s important to make a SORN declaration. That’s because a SORN does not carry over from one owner to the next.

If you decide to tax your vehicle again, your SORN will automatically be cancelled. It will also come to an end if you decide to sell or permanently export your motorbike.

Be sure not to drive your vehicle if you have chosen to SORN it, though, unless you are going for a pre-booked driving test. Driving with a SORN in place could come with serious penalties including court prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500.

What happens if you don't SORN a motorbike?

If you don’t have a SORN in place, you’ll be fined for two different offences:

1. £80 for not having a SORN in place.
2. At least £300 and six penalty points for not having the correct insurance in place.

How to make a SORN for a motorbike

You will need:

• Your vehicle log book (V5C). When you complete the application, they will ask you for the 11-digit number that you will find inside it. Make sure that your address is correct in your logbook. If you need to, you can change your address online here or by post.

• Your vehicle’s registration number.

If it’s time to renew your tax on your motorbike, but you’d rather make a SORN for it instead, you will need:

• 16-digit reference number on your vehicle tax reminder. (You’ll find this number on the letter they sent you to remind you that it’s time to renew your tax.)

If you’re not sure whether your vehicle tax has expired, you can find out here on the government website. You’ll need your vehicle’s registration number to complete this process.

Can you SORN a motorcycle online?

If your motorbike is registered in your name, you can make a SORN for it online through the government’s website. The process is simple!

As soon as you’re ready to take your vehicle off the road, follow these steps:

1. Head to the government website. Here’s the link to it.
2. Have your vehicle log book, registration number, and, if applicable, tax reminder (V11) handy. 
3. You’ll be prompted to answer a series of questions regarding your bike and its tax and insurance details.

If your vehicle tax has already expired, your SORN will start as soon as your application has been processed and updated in the system. (Note that the DVLA’s records can take 2 working days to update.)

If you are applying in the month that your vehicle tax is due to expire, your SORN will begin on the first day of the next month. (You can make a SORN up to 2 months in advance — but unless you want the SORN to start on the first day of the next month, you’ll need to make the application by post. Details below!)

You can also apply in the following ways:

1) By phone

Call the DVLA vehicle service number on:

0300 123 4321. 

This is a 24-hour service. Head here to find out how much the call will cost.

2) By post

Send the SORN application form (V890) to:

DVLA

Swansea 

SA99 1AR

Can you SORN a motorbike that is not registered in your name?

Yes, you can make a SORN for a motorbike not registered in your name.

You’ll need:

• The vehicle’s logbook
• A V890 SORN application form

Send the filled-out logbook and application form to the DVLA (Swansea, SA99 1AR).

If you don’t have a log book, you’ll need to get one to make a SORN. To make this happen, send in the following forms to the DVLA:

• V62 (application form for a log book) — Head here for our complete guide to this form.
• V890 (application form for a SORN)

How much does it cost to SORN a motorbike?

It costs nothing to SORN a motorbike, and you will more than likely receive money back in the form of tax refund for any tax you’ve paid for the rest of the year. So, if you’re sure you won’t be driving your bike for a while, it’s definitely worth doing.

How do I tax my bike after SORN?

As soon as you want to put your bike back on the road again, all you need to do is tax it online and make sure it is properly insured.

The process of taxing your vehicle online is simple to do on the government’s website.

You’ll need a reference number that you can find in your vehicle logbook.

Payment can be made through debit or credit card or Direct Debit.

How do I insure my bike after SORN?

Insuring your bike is simple after SORN.

To stay legally compliant, you’ll need at least third-party insurance. You may, however, want more comprehensive insurance in place that will cover you for all sorts of eventualities, including any damage to your motorcycle as well as replacement bikes if yours is written off.

Get a quote here so that you can get insured in no time!

While there’s no legal obligation to insure your motorcycle if it’s not on the road, you may want to do so for other reasons. These include insuring against fire and theft — both of which could happen even if it’s sitting in your garage.

Talk to us about how you can make that happen, cost-effectively and efficiently.

In summary

It’s important to SORN your motorcycle if you take it off the road. This will benefit your pocket and keep you in the good books of the DVLA.

The process is simple and free. You can do it online, by phone, or by mail.

While a SORN is in place, you will not be able to drive your motorcycle on public roads. If you do so, you could face hefty fines and court prosecution.

When you’re ready to drive your motorcycle again, all you have to do is tax and insure it and you’re good to go!

Also read:

• 10 types of motorbikes you’ll find in the UK
• Pothole perils: how to claim for damage
• If my car is written off, what happens to my insurance policy? | Howden Insurance
• Can you drive a SORN car to an MOT without insurance?
• Everything you need to know about a car write-off
• The V62 form [A Complete Guide]