How to SORN a motorbike in the UK

Find out how to SORN a motorbike in the UK in our comprehensive guide. Discover what a SORN is and the steps to apply for a motorbike SORN.

How to SORN a motorbike in the UK

If you own a motorbike in the UK (or plan to finance a motorbike that you don't yet plan on using on public roads - for any reason - you can declare it as “off-road” by applying for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). A SORN is a legal requirement in the UK that allows you to avoid paying road tax and insurance for your motorbike, whilst keeping it parked off-road. In this post, we will guide you through more details on SORNs and the process of SORN-ing a motorbike in the UK.

What is a SORN?
Do I need to SORN my motorbike?
Do I need to renew a SORN?
How to SORN a motorbike
How long does a SORN last for a motorbike?
How to remove a SORN on your motorbike
What happens if I don’t SORN my motorbike?
How do I check if my motorbike SORN is still valid?
How can I save money on motorbike insurance instead of getting a SORN?
How can I check my motorbike’s monthly repayments?

What is a SORN?

As we touched upon briefly, SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. With this documentation, you can legally keep a motorbike off-road until the vehicle starts being used, is re-taxed, sold, permanently exported or scrapped.

Do I need to SORN my motorbike?

In short, yes, everyone with a vehicle must apply for a SORN if it’s not being used on the road. Even if you’ve taken out short-term insurance or don’t plan to ride your motorcycle for a while, you’ll still need to apply for a SORN to keep it off-road legally.

Do I need to renew a SORN?

Insurance is applied
Insurance is rewnewed
The motorbike is permanently exported
You sell the motorbike
It is scrapped

With this in mind, it means you won’t need to renew your motorbike’s SORN once you’ve completed the necessary steps. Unfortunately, you cannot backdate a SORN, even if you received your motorbike later than anticipated. Your motorbike’s SORN can start on the first day of the next month, or be applied straight away.

How do I SORN my motorbike?

1. Apply for a SORN in three ways

Applying for a SORN on the government website is the quickest way to get one. Alternatively, you can apply for a SORN via the DVLA. If you’d prefer to do it the old-fashioned way, you can call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321 which offers a 24-hour service, or by post with a completed V890 form to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. You can find an official V890 form online.

Say you’ve applied for motorbike finance and get your purchase sorted, you can SORN your motorcycle from the first day of the following month with a 16-digit number from your vehicle tax reminder letter, which is known as a V11.

For all methods above, you’ll need your 11-digit logbook or V5C reference number as well as your reg plate.

2. Store your motorbike off-road

Once you've applied for SORN, you must keep your motorbike off-road. You can store it on private property, in a garage or driveway, or on a trailer. You cannot park it on public roads or use it on public land.

3. Cancel your motorbike’s insurance

If your motorbike is declared SORN, you do not need to have insurance. However, if you cancel your insurance policy, make sure you inform your insurance provider that your motorbike is SORN-ed.

How much is it to SORN a motorbike?

It’s completely free to SORN a motorbike! If you apply for a SORN whilst your road tax is valid, you may even qualify for a refund for the remaining months. The only time you may need to pay is if you lose your V5C logbook, which costs £25 and should arrive with you within five days of purchasing. If it has been two weeks or more and you’ve not received it, you’ll have to let the DVLA know.

How long does a SORN last for a motorbike?

A motorbike SORN lasts for 12 months. After this point, you’ll need to submit a new request for a SORN. If you’re not sure when yours is due to expire, you can check on the DVLA Vehicle Check section of their website. You should also get a V11 letter sent to you as a reminder to renew your SORN.

How to remove a SORN on your motorbike

There isn’t a process to remove your SORN. This is because your SORN is automatically invalidated when you tax your motorcycle, sell it, scrap it or permanently export it.

What happens if I don’t SORN my motorbike?

By not SORN-ing your motorcycle, you could face a fine that can increase in value if no action is taken. Here is a breakdown of what these fines look like, and their corresponding penalties:

Situation 1: You’re the registered owner of an untaxed motorcycle.

Response: The DVLA will notify you that you’ve not paid tax towards your motorbike or declared a motorbike SORN.

Penalty: £80 (cut to £40 if settled within 28 days.) Failure to pay could result in a debt collection agency reaching out.

Situation 2: You’re using an untaxed motorbike in some way without getting a SORN for it.

Response: An Out of Court Settlement (OCS) will be put in motion. Typically, your untaxed motorbike may have been caught by an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera or the police themselves.

Penalty: The OCS will request £30 plus 1.5 times the outstanding vehicle tax rate. Failure to pay will result in a criminal offence, with a penalty rising up to £1,000, or 5 times the tax amount liable (whichever is greater). It’s not uncommon for your motorbike to be clamped at this stage.

Situation 3: You’re still using an untaxed motorbike without declaring a SORN.

Penalty: The OCS is set at £30 plus 2 times the outstanding vehicle tax owed. Failure to pay will result in a criminal offence taken up by the Magistrates Court. The penalty rising up to £2,500, or 5 times the tax amount liable (whichever is greater). It’s not uncommon for your motorbike to be clamped.

How do I check if my motorbike SORN is still valid?

Simply visit the “Check if my vehicle is taxed” page on the government website and pop your registration plate number in. If you’ve recently SORNed your vehicle, it may take up to five days for it to show up. If more than five days have passed, it’s worth contacting the DVLA to ensure your SORN has been properly processed.

How can I save money on motorbike insurance instead of getting a SORN?

SORN-ing a motorbike usually happens for a variety of reasons, one of them being that you simply can’t keep up with insurance rates. So what are your options?

One way is to invest in a new motorbike that’s cheaper to insure. You can even trade in your motorbike if you want to offset the cost. If that still won’t scratch the surface for a new bike, then financing your motorbike is also a viable option. Still not convinced due to poor credit? We specialise in bad credit motorbike financing for those who may have been rejected for motorbike finance in the past.

How can I check my motorbike’s monthly repayments?

You’ll have to refer to the agreement with the motorbike loan company you go for. However, if you want a rough idea of how much your motorbike’s monthly repayments will be, then you can use our motorbike finance calculator.

We hope this guide has helped you take the steps to SORN your motorbike. If you’re in the market for a motorbike with bad credit or simply want a better APR deal, contact Superbike Loans to find out more.

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