Taking your car off the road doesn't mean you have to leave it unprotected. At Chris Knott Insurance, we understand that just because your vehicle isn't being driven doesn't mean it isn't valuable.
This cover, also known as laid up car insurance, protects a vehicle that's temporarily off the road. It's the cover for a temporary or seasonal break from driving, whether the car is laid up for winter, waiting on parts mid-restoration, or simply not needed for a while.
Get a quote and we'll help you find the right cover to protect it from fire, theft and damage while it's in storage.
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We've been helping vehicle owners arrange insurance for over 40 years. With extensive experience in the nuances around motor insurance, we understand how important it is to protect cars that matter, even when they're not on the road.
Our real team in Hastings, East Sussex, works with insurers who know the ins and outs of laid-up and classic vehicles. With a combined 180 years of knowledge, UK-based brokers can advise on the best plan for you. Because we're FCA authorised and regulated (FCA Register No: 304452), you can be confident you're receiving clear, compliant advice tailored to your circumstances. Call 0800 917 2274 to speak to the team directly.
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification, and it lets the DVLA know you've taken your car off the road. Once it's in place, you don't have to pay vehicle tax or keep your car insured under a standard motor policy.
While SORN removes your legal obligation to insure your vehicle for road use, it doesn't protect it from non-road risks. If you cancel your motor insurance while your car has a SORN, you won't be covered for accidental or weather damage, or for theft. SORN vehicle insurance, sometimes called laid up car insurance, closes exactly this gap: it's designed for vehicles that are officially declared off-road, covering fire, theft and accidental damage while the car isn't being driven, so a car or project you've spent years building up isn't left exposed just because it isn't currently driveable. This is the cover most SORN vehicle owners actually need. Get your quote and protect your vehicle.
Your car must be registered as SORN with the DVLA before you arrange off-road vehicle insurance. You can do this online via the DVLA website, by phone to the DVLA on 0300 123 4321 (24-hour service), or by post using a V890 form, and you'll need your V5C registration certificate or the reference number from your V11 tax reminder.
Once declared, your SORN remains in place until the vehicle is taxed again, sold, scrapped or permanently exported. Applying for SORN is free, and if you've paid vehicle tax in advance, you may receive a refund for the unused months.
Laid up car insurance can be a sensible option in a range of situations, including:
If your classic is being restored, laid up over winter, or only used seasonally, laid-up cover protects it while it's off the road, including cars kept abroad or waiting on parts.
Cars that aren't currently roadworthy but still hold value can be protected against fire, theft and damage while restoration work is ongoing.
If you own more than one car and one isn't in use, laid up car insurance can provide protection without the cost of full road cover.
Whether you're travelling abroad or simply don't need your car for a while, the cover keeps it protected until you're ready to use it again.
Standard laid up car insurance typically provides fire and theft protection for your vehicle while it's being stored, so your investment stays protected even when it isn't being used on public roads. Depending on the policy you choose, cover can include:
Protection if your vehicle is damaged by fire while in storage.
Cover if your vehicle is stolen from your storage location.
Protection against malicious damage.
Some policies extend to accidental damage that might occur while the vehicle is stored.
Cover for flood or storm damage.
Some policies can help protect valuable spare parts and tools associated with the vehicle, worth checking if you've got an expensive gearbox or engine sitting on a shelf waiting to go back in.
Agreed value cover can usually continue while the car is laid up too, so the valuation you've settled on with your insurer doesn't lapse just because the car isn't currently on the road, which matters for a classic that's likely to be worth more once restoration work is finished.
While it won't cover you to drive the vehicle, it can offer valuable peace of mind, particularly if the car is a classic, a restoration project or has an agreed value. It's important to note that laid up car insurance doesn't cover any driving on public roads, as the vehicle is declared SORN. When you're ready to drive again, call us and we'll switch your cover over.
Often, yes, and it's worth arranging specifically rather than assuming it's automatically included. Many laid-up policies extend to cover the car in transit, by trailer or transporter, to a show, concours or similar event even while it remains SORN and off the road day to day. If displaying the car occasionally is part of why you're keeping it, mention this when you get a quote so the cover reflects how the car is actually used, not just how it's stored.
Yes, laid up car insurance is built around exactly this situation. You can carry on with a restoration project, service work or bodywork while the car remains off the road, provided it stays where it's declared as stored and isn't driven on public roads, since that would take it outside what a SORN vehicle is allowed to do.
You'll need to tax the vehicle again and have a valid MOT if the car needs one before it goes back on the road. Call us and we can adjust your existing laid-up policy to full road-use cover rather than starting a new policy from scratch, keeping your no-claims history and agreed value in place. It's worth arranging the insurance change alongside taxing and MOT-ing the car, rather than after.
It's generally cheaper than a full road-use policy, since the car isn't being driven and the main risks are fire, theft and damage in storage rather than an accident. The exact price depends on the agreed value of the car, how secure the storage location is, and the level of cover you choose, so a car kept in a locked, alarmed garage typically costs less to cover than one stored somewhere less secure.
You can make a claim by contacting our team directly, and we'll talk you through what's needed. Having photos of the car in its stored condition and details of the storage location ready speeds things up, particularly for a claim relating to theft or damage while the car was off the road.
If your vehicle is taking a break from the road, we're here to help protect it while it's off-duty, and to help make the move back again when you need to. Call our friendly, experienced team now for straightforward, pressure-free support and a quote that reflects exactly how your car is stored and used.
*Chris Knott Insurance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 304452). You can check this on the Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.*
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Don't leave a valuable car unprotected while it's off the road. Get a quote and we'll help make sure your vehicle stays covered from the moment it goes off the road to the day it goes back on. We're open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
