In the UK, you must pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), known as car tax or road tax, on all vehicles driven or kept on a public road. It’s illegal to drive a vehicle that doesn’t have valid road tax unless it's exempt.
For more information see the FAQs below or our car tax guide.
Car tax checker frequently asked questions
What happens if I don’t tax my vehicle?
In the UK, it’s against the law to drive a vehicle on a public road without road tax.
Each month the DVLA checks all vehicles registered in the UK. If a vehicle is flagged as being untaxed and not declared SORN, an automated fine of £80 is sent to the address of the registered owner.
If you don’t pay this fine, it could increase to £1,000. The DVLA can also clamp your vehicle until you pay the tax.
Do I need to tax my vehicle if it’s registered as SORN?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. If you don’t drive your car and it’s not kept on a public road, for example if it’s kept on your drive, you can declare it SORN. This means you won’t need to tax it.
If you don’t drive your car but it’s kept on a public road you must tax it.
How much does it cost to tax my vehicle?
For vehicles registered before 1 March 2001, how much road tax you pay is based on engine size. For vehicles registered after this date, the amount of tax you pay is based on CO2 emissions and fuel type.
How often do I need to renew my road tax?
You must renew your road tax every year, and you can pay on a yearly, six monthly or monthly basis.
How will I know when my road tax expires?
Usually, the DVLA will send you a reminder when your road tax is about to expire. Or you can use our car tax checker tool to see when your road tax expires.
Will I get a refund on my road tax if I sell my vehicle?
Yes, you will.
If you sell your vehicle, cancel your road tax and you’ll automatically receive a refund for any full months remaining. Your existing road tax can’t be transferred to the new owner.
If I buy a vehicle, can I drive it home without road tax?
No, you’re not allowed to drive a vehicle if it doesn’t have road tax, unless it’s exempt.
If you’re buying a new vehicle and collecting it from the garage or buying a used vehicle and collecting it from its current owner, you must make sure you’ve taxed it before driving on a public road.
Are there any vehicles that don’t need road tax?
Some types of vehicle are free to tax. However, even if you don’t have to pay, you must still tax them.
You may be exempt from paying for tax if:
the vehicle is used by a person with a disability.
the vehicle was made before 1 January 1980.
it’s an electric vehicle where the electricity comes from an external power source or an electric storage battery.
the vehicle is used for agriculture, horticulture, and forestry.
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