Can I sell my car with no road tax?

SORN cars and road tax

It is a legal requirement to tax and insure your car if you drive or park it on public roads. You cannot drive without tax (with just a few exceptions such as driving to a pre-booked MOT test).

If you intend to keep your car on private property, you must make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). This informs the DVLA that you are taking the car ‘off road’, so you no longer need to tax or insure it.

However, it is important to be aware that once your car is subject to a SORN, you cannot use the vehicle on public roads until you have re-taxed and insured it. Your car must also have a valid MOT to be used on public roads.

Can I sell an untaxed car without a SORN?

Yes, it is technically possible to sell an untaxed car without a SORN. However, we advise against doing so, as there are several legal caveats to consider:

• Although selling an untaxed car itself is legal, keeping the vehicle without either taxing it or making a SORN is not.
• When the existing tax cover expires, you must either renew your car tax or make a SORN.
• An untaxed car cannot be driven or parked on public roads.
• It is also illegal to keep an untaxed car on your own private property. If you intend to do this, you must make a SORN.
• If you allow the tax to expire, you could still receive a fine for unpaid tax, even if you keep the car on your own property.

Penalties for untaxed cars

• If the DVLA’s records show your vehicle is untaxed, you may receive a Late Licensing Penalty (LLP) of £80.
• If you are caught driving or using an untaxed car on public roads, you may receive an out-of-court settlement (OCS) of £30 plus 1.5x the outstanding road tax.
• If caught using a SORN car on a public road, you could receive a fine of up to £2,500, a court prosecution – and the vehicle may be clamped or impounded.

How to sell a SORN car privately (step-by-step)

1. Gather all the documents needed to sell your car (e.g. the V5C logbook and service history).

2. Take a series of good quality interior and exterior photos, ideally in clear daylight.

3. Create an ad, including the photos, and a clear description of your car. Your ad should clearly state that the car is SORN and cannot be driven on public roads.

4. Car advertising websites offer a range of free and premium listing options. You can also use traditional advertising mediums such as local newspapers and community noticeboards.

5. When meeting prospective buyers, be honest about your car’s tax/SORN and MOT status. This will help you and the buyer stay compliant and avoid legal issues.

6. Remember, you cannot facilitate a test drive in a SORN car. You can demonstrate the vehicle on your own land, providing it is not accessible to the public.

7. Be prepared to negotiate. It’s likely that the buyer will request a discount based on the car’s condition and SORN status.

8. Make sure you sell your car safely, avoiding scams, and taking payment in a secure manner. (We recommend bank transfer.) Whichever method you accept, don’t hand over the keys until the cash is in your account.

9. After selling your SORN car, it’s your responsibility to transfer ownership to the buyer. You can do this instantly via the DVLA website. It’s also possible to transfer ownership by post, but the process takes longer.

Key considerations when selling a SORN car

• A SORN status may raise questions about your car’s condition and reliability, reducing its resale value.

• You cannot conduct a test drive or display your SORN car on public roads.

• If your car isn’t roadworthy and/or doesn’t have a valid MOT, you must disclose this. Failing to do so could land you in legal trouble.

• If the car doesn’t have a valid MOT, the buyer will have to arrange for it to be taxed, insured, and transported at the point of sale, which will incur additional costs.

• After selling your car, you must notify the DVLA. The easiest way to do this is via their website.

• If you buy another car, you’ll need to tax it immediately, as road tax does not transfer at the point of sale.

SORN cars and webuyanycar: What you need to know

If your car is SORN or untaxed, we can still buy your car.

However, to ensure you remain legally compliant, it should be taxed and insured during the selling process. When you sell your car to webuyanycar, it must be driven or transported to our branch, as we do not offer a vehicle collection service.

If you intend to drive to your appointment, you’ll also need to ensure that your car has a valid MOT. Otherwise, it should be transported (e.g. on a flatbed truck).

As our branches are located on properties with public access, you cannot legally drop off a SORN vehicle, as doing so would breach its terms.

• Therefore, to avoid legal implications, we recommend re-taxing and insuring your SORN car for the time it takes you to sell to us.

Frequently Asked Questions