How to tax my new car?
You can collect your car tax online, over the phone, or by post.
You will need one of the following documents to pay taxes on your vehicle.
- V11 Reminder
- V5C registration form
- If you have just bought the car, the other guard drops.
How to check if a car has road tax?
Enter your registration number to find out whether your vehicle has road tax. Use our road tax check to determine the tax status of any vehicle, including motorcycles and vans.
Once you’ve entered your vehicle’s registration, you can view its history and get information about MOT & Tax, mileage check, outstanding, write-off, and an up-to-date vehicle history report.
Why must you ensure your vehicle has a valid road tax?
It is illegal in the UK to drive a car without road tax. Hence, ensuring your vehicle has a valid tax is essential. When purchasing your next used car, check whether the vehicle tax is up-to-date or registered off the road.
What's required to pay car tax?
You need only a valid reference number to tax your car, motorbike, or scooter. This reference number can be easily found by checking recent reminders or warning letters from the DVLA or in the vehicle’s logbook (V5C).
It is important to note that the logbook should be in your name or accompanied by a green ‘new keeper’ slip if you recently purchased the vehicle.
If you haven’t paid your tax yet, you can pay your car tax online.
What categories do vehicle tax bands fall into?
The car tax is calculated depending on which category. Vehicle Excise Duty bands are based on fuel type (engine, diesel, and electric cars) and vary based on CO2 emissions.
- Cars are grouped into vehicle tax bands according to their CO2 emissions.
- These bands help determine the amount owners must pay in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), also known as road tax.
- Usually, some bands correspond to different levels of CO2 emissions, ranging from A to M.
- Higher-emission vehicles are taxed more and are classified in higher bands; vehicles with fewer emissions are classified in lower bands and often pay less tax.
- This approach discourages the usage of high-emission automobiles and encourages the purchasing of globally suitable vehicles. To check the vehicle tax rate have a look here.
Which vehicles are exempt from road tax?
- Vehicles 40 years old or registered before 1st January 1975 are exempt from VED.
- Other road tax-exempt vehicles are electric vehicles, service vehicles, and vehicles for people with disabilities.
- Vehicles used for agricultural forestry work include tractors or light agricultural vehicles that can drive off-road, exempting from the road tax.
- Electric vehicles are also exempt from the road tax (Until 2025).
How do I check the road tax expiry date?
You can take the following actions to find out when your car’s road tax is set to expire:
- Portal for Online Vehicle Registration: Go to the official website of your nation’s transport or automobile registration department. One example is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) website in the UK.
- Enter the vehicle details: Look for a section labelled “Check Vehicle Information” or “Check Vehicle Tax.” Enter your car’s registration number here.
- View Details: The portal will display your car’s details, including the road tax expiration date.
Frequently asked question
1. What happens if I drive an untaxed vehicle?
Driving a vehicle on UK roads without road tax is an offense. However, there are some cases where it is legally allowed to drive the car to the pre-booked MOT test.
2. Is it possible to report an untaxed vehicle?
Yes, it is possible to report an untaxed vehicle in the UK. The Department for Drivers and Vehicle Licensing (DVLA) allows individuals to report vehicles used or parked on public roads without paying the appropriate tax.
3. What are the details required to report an untaxed vehicle?
Take down the vehicle’s registration number, make, model, and color, as well as the street name, town, and postcode where it was seen. Without this information, you won’t be able to report the vehicle.
4. How to find out the road tax and MOT due date?
Enter your vehicle registration number to check a vehicle’s tax and MOT expiry date. A free road tax check also includes other information such as make, model, colour & more.
5. How do I renew my road tax?
Visit your nation’s official vehicle registration or transport department website, enter your car’s registration number, and then follow the steps to renew your road tax.
- Your V11 reminder’s 16-digit reference number
- V5C document reference number
- Document reference number for the V5C/2 new keeper supplement
6. If I cancel my car tax, will I get a refund?
Yes, If you cancel your car tax (also known as Vehicle Excise Duty) in the UK, you are generally eligible for a refund for any full month tax.
7. How to check if the car is taxed?
Check the vehicle’s current road tax status by providing the vehicle registration number. You can find when the tax expires soon and how much it costs. It is better to check if your vehicle is insured using ‘askMID’.
Does road tax change?
The rates for road taxes typically alter on April 1st of each year. Since they don’t release carbon dioxide when they exhaust, zero-emission automobiles and vans are now free from paying road tax.
However, starting in 2025, the government intends to impose a regular tax on zero-emission automobiles and vans each year after the first year of registration, with a reduced rate applied in the first year.
Get vehicle tax assistance by contacting the DVLA
Contacting the DVLA for assistance with your vehicle tax can be done in several ways:
Phone: 0300 123 4321 is the reliable number to reach the DVLA’s vehicle tax department. This service is open from 8 AM to 7 PM, Monday through Friday, and from 8 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays.
Online: If you have any questions about vehicle taxes, the DVLA offers an online service. You can access this service on their website.
Post – You can write to the DVLA at the following address if you would instead send a letter:
Swansea, DVLA SA99 1AR
The DVLA can answer any questions about vehicle tax payments, exemptions, refunds, or other related issues.
