Car Tax Guide

All vehicles registered in the UK need to be taxed if they are used or kept on a public road. Vehicles kept off-road must either be taxed or have a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).

Since 1st October 2014, motorists have no longer needed to display a paper tax disc, but failure to pay car tax could result in an instant £80 fixed penalty fine, or a £1,000 fine if it goes to court. To learn more, read our Car Tax Guide by ALA GAP Insurance.

Car Tax Check

If you would like to check your vehicle’s tax status, the Government have an online vehicle enquiry service. This service enables users to search a car by make and model and shows its tax expiry dates. To make an enquiry, all you have to do enter the vehicle registration number (number plate) and the vehicle make.

How to tax your car

The easiest way to tax a vehicle is with the Vehicle Licence Application/Statutory Off Road Notification (V11 reminder) from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The V11 should arrive three weeks before your car tax runs out, after which you can renew your car tax online, by phone, by post or in person. Tax car by phone

• Telephone: 0300 123 4321
• Textphone: 0300 790 6201

Tax your car at the Post Office To tax a vehicle at the Post Office, motorists will need payment for the tax and one of the following:

• the vehicle tax reminder letter (V11)
• a V5C registration certificate (log book) in your name
• a new keeper supplement (V5C/2)

Drivers may also need:

• their MOT test certificate (must be valid when the tax starts)
• a valid reduced pollution certificate

If you have lost your V11 reminder letter, you can use any of the following:

• a V5C registration certificate (log book) in your name
• your new keeper supplement (V5C/2)
• your ‘last chance’ warning letter

Car tax rates

Vehicle tax (formally Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) or Graduated VED) rates are based on the car’s engine size, fuel type, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and the date of first registration. Petrol car (TC48) and diesel car (TC49)

Band	CO2 emission (g/km)	Single 12-month payment	Single 12-month payment by Direct Debit	Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit	Single 6-month payment	Single 6-month payment by Direct Debit
A	Up to 100	£0	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available
B	101-110	£20	£20	£21	Not available	Not available
C	111-120	£30	£30	£31.50	Not available	Not available
D	121-130	£110	£110	£115.50	£60.50	£57.75
E	131-140	£130	£130	£136.50	£71.50	£68.25
F	141-150	£145	£145	£152.25	£79.75	£76.13
G	151-165	£180	£180	£189	£99	£94.50
H	166-175	£205	£205	£215.25	£112.75	£107.63
I	176-185	£225	£225	£236.25	£123.75	£118.13
J	186-200	£265	£265	£278.25	£145.75	£139.13
K*	201-225	£290	£290	£304.50	£159.50	£152.25
L	226-255	£490	£490	£514.50	£269.50	£257.25
M	Over 255	£505	£505	£530.25	£277.75	£265.13

*Includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km but registered before 23 March 2006. Alternative fuel car (TC59)

Band	CO2 emission (g/km)	Single 12-month payment	Single 12-month payment by Direct Debit	Total of 12 monthly instalments by Direct Debit	Single 6-month payment	6 months by Direct Debit
A	Up to 100	£0	Not available	Not available	Not available	Not available
B	101-110	£10	£10	£10.50	Not available	Not available
C	111-120	£20	£20	£21	Not available	Not available
D	121-130	£100	£100	£105	£55	£52.50
E	131-140	£120	£120	£126	£66	£63
F	141-150	£135	£135	£141.75	£74.25	£70.88
G	151-165	£170	£170	£178.50	£93.50	£89.25
H	166-175	£195	£195	£204.75	£107.25	£102.38
I	176-185	£215	£215	£225.75	£118.25	£112.88
J	186-200	£255	£255	£267.75	£140.25	£133.88
K*	201-225	£280	£280	£294	£154	£147
L	226-255	£480	£480	£504	£264	£252
M	Over 255	£495	£495	£519.75	£272.25	£259.88

*Includes cars with a CO2 figure over 225g/km but registered before 23 March 2006.

What is SORN?

Motorists who do not use or keep their vehicle on a public road, e.g. in a garage or on a drive, need to make a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) instead of taxing it. This can be done either on online, by phone, by post or in person. A SORN must be made in the following situations:

• a vehicle isn’t taxed
• a vehicle isn’t insured
• the owner wants to break a vehicle down for parts before scrapping it
• the owner buys a vehicle and wants to keep it off the road

Making a SORN Click here to make a SORN online Drivers will need either:

• the 16-digit reference number on the vehicle tax renewal letter (V11)
• the 11-digit reference number on the log book (V5C)

Make a SORN by phone

• Telephone: 0300 123 4321
• Textphone: 0300 790 6201

Calls to 03 numbers cost approximately:

• 2p to 10p from landlines
• 10p to 40p from mobile phones

Make a SORN by post Motorists can also make a SORN by post by sending the V890 form to the DVLA, with a letter explaining why the vehicle is off road. DVLA Swansea SA99 1AR Click here to read more: Guides ALA Connect.