Paying your Car Tax, officially known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), is a legal requirement for all vehicle owners in the UK. Ensuring your vehicle is taxed is crucial to avoid penalties and stay compliant with the law. This guide outlines the different methods available for paying your car tax, making the process straightforward and hassle-free.
Paying Your Car Tax by Phone
One convenient method to pay your car tax is over the phone. The DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) provides a 24-hour telephone service for vehicle tax payments.
Telephone: 0300 123 4321
Find out about call charges
Please note that while phone payments are available, you cannot set up a Direct Debit for car tax payments through this method.
Paying Your Car Tax at a Post Office
Another accessible option for paying your car tax is by visiting a Post Office branch that handles vehicle tax services. To complete your car tax payment at the Post Office, ensure you bring the necessary documentation.
Visit your local Post Office that deals with vehicle tax and take the required items with you. You will need to bring either:
- Payment for your vehicle tax. You can find the specific amount due using the vehicle tax rate tables.
- Your bank or building society account details if you wish to set up a Direct Debit for your car tax payments at the Post Office.
If your vehicle is exempt from car tax, you will not need to provide payment details.
In addition to payment information, you will also need to present one of the following documents:
- Your vehicle log book (V5C). This must be in your name to be accepted.
- The green ‘new keeper’ slip from the vehicle log book if you have recently purchased the vehicle.
Depending on your vehicle’s status, you might also be required to provide evidence of a valid MOT (Ministry of Transport) certificate when taxing your vehicle. This could be a screenshot from the vehicle’s MOT history checker or your physical MOT certificate, if you have one. Remember that it can take up to 2 days for MOT information to be updated in the system after passing the test, so ensure enough time has passed before attempting to tax your vehicle immediately after an MOT.
Specific Requirements for Northern Ireland
If you reside in Northern Ireland and plan to tax your vehicle at a Post Office, there are additional requirements. You will need to bring both:
- A paper copy of your vehicle insurance certificate or cover note.
- An original MOT test certificate or proof of a Temporary Exemption Certificate (TEC).
Evidence of a TEC can be provided through a screenshot from the vehicle’s MOT history. If this is not possible, an expired MOT certificate can be presented as evidence. It’s important to note that you do not need to apply for a new MOT certificate in this case.
Declaring Your Vehicle Off the Road (SORN)
If your vehicle is not being used on public roads, for example, if it is kept in a garage or undergoing repairs, you can declare it as off the road by registering a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). Registering your vehicle as off the road means you do not need to pay car tax for it until you decide to use it on the road again.
Changing Your Vehicle Tax Class to or from ‘Disabled’
There are specific circumstances where you might need to change your vehicle’s tax class. This is often necessary when:
- The vehicle was previously used by a disabled person and is now being taxed under a different circumstance.
- You are a disabled person and are taxing the vehicle for the first time and are eligible for a different tax class.
Applications to change your vehicle tax class, particularly to or from the ‘disabled’ class, can only be processed at a Post Office. Apply for changes at a Post Office to ensure your vehicle is correctly taxed under the appropriate tax class.
