Millions of drivers could save on their car tax payments over the coming years with experts calling on motorists struggling with their costs to look into alternative options.
The Statutory Off Road Notification is a legal notification that can be made to the DVLA to formally declare a car as being off the road.
For car owners, the main benefit is that drivers pay no tax on the vehicle while it’s in this period, though it will also lose the ability to be covered by insurance and must be kept off the road.
The number of cars with a SORN status in 2023 was up by almost five per cent compared with the same figures for 2022 between January and September.
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Drivers can get a tax refund if they declare their vehicle SORN PABut with insurance premiums at an all-time high, Scrap Car Comparisonhas suggested that drivers could save money by declaring their vehicle SORN.
When thinking about SORNs, many people may think that this only applies to cars that are off the road for longer periods of time, but the comparison site said this is not always the case.
David Kottaun, operations manager at Scrap Car Comparison explained: “Motorists have to face many costs when it comes to car ownership, and depending on the age and fuel type of the vehicle, tax can be a significant one.
“Each year, cars may be left un-driven for periods of time for a variety of reasons, but people may still be paying for them during these times.“The ongoing cost of living crisis means that people are trying to make their money go further, so SORNing can be an easy way to avoid paying tax if your car is stood still.”
Travelling, ill health and the cost of repairs could be a few reasons why a car isn’t on the road, so if drivers can relate to any of these situations, they might want to consider taking their car off the road temporarily.
Kottaun continued that a voluntary SORN status could be saving money to spend elsewhere, rather than wasting it on a car that they won’t even be driving during a particular timeframe.
With increasing numbers of people working remotely from abroad, and students often taking advantage of their university holidays, many people may find themselves spending a couple of months, or more, out of the country - in which case, SORNing their vehicle could help them save money.
Similarly, if car owners have an injury or surgery that means they’re unable to drive, but keep their car on a private driveway, a SORN could be used to claim back any tax for this period.
It is seen as a better option than keeping a car in its roadworthy state and essentially throwing money away, Kottaun explained.
The only thing needed to get a car back on the road is to re-tax it online alongside a valid MOT and insurance to be driven legally on the roads.
In 2022, Scrap Car Comparison found that a quarter of Brits had delayed getting their car repaired due to the costs involved, with more than a fifth feeling stressed about the costs associated with driving on a weekly or daily basis.
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Drivers can use DVLA services to SORN their car
PASORN status will start immediately if either the vehicle tax has expired or a driver is not applying the month the vehicle tax is due to expire.