Check car tax.
Taxed or not?
See instantly whether any UK vehicle is taxed, when its tax runs out, which tax band it sits in and what it should cost.
Enter the registration above to check a vehicle’s tax status free. You will see whether the car is currently taxed or SORN, the exact date its tax expires, its CO₂-based tax band and engine details. Driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road is an offence — the registered keeper can be fined automatically.
What this car tax check shows you
- Tax status — taxed, untaxed, or declared SORN (off the road).
- Tax due date — the day the current tax period ends.
- Tax band information — engine size, fuel type and CO₂ emissions, which decide the rate.
- MOT status alongside — because a vehicle cannot be taxed without a valid MOT.
How car tax works in the UK
Vehicle tax — officially Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — must be paid for any vehicle used or kept on a public road. What you pay depends on when the car was registered:
Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017
The first year’s rate is based on CO₂ emissions and paid by the first keeper. From the second year, most petrol and diesel cars pay a standard rate (£195 a year at current rates). Expensive cars — list price over £40,000 — pay an additional rate on top for five years. Electric cars moved onto the standard rate from April 2025.
Cars registered between 2001 and 2017
These sit in CO₂ bands (A to M). Low-emission cars in the lowest bands pay little or nothing; high-emission cars in band M pay the most. The band is fixed by the CO₂ figure recorded at registration — which is exactly what this check shows you.
Cars registered before 2001
Tax is based on engine size alone, in two bands split at 1,549cc.
Checking tax before you buy a car
Since 2014, car tax no longer transfers to the new owner. When a car is sold, the seller’s tax is cancelled and refunded for full remaining months, and the buyer must tax the car before driving it away — even if the old disc or record suggested months were left. A tax check before you view a car tells you two things: whether the seller is currently legal, and exactly what tax bill lands on you the moment you buy. Always run the check and factor the first payment into your budget.
What happens if a car is not taxed?
The DVLA runs continuous enforcement from its database — there is no need to be stopped by the police. Lapsed tax triggers an automatic penalty (a late licensing penalty of £80, reduced if paid promptly), and driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road can lead to prosecution, a fine of up to £1,000, and the vehicle being clamped or impounded. If a vehicle is genuinely off the road, the keeper must declare SORN instead — this check shows that status too.
Vehicles that pay £0 tax — but must still “tax” them
Some vehicles are exempt from paying but their keepers must still complete the annual tax process at £0: vehicles in the disabled tax class, and historic vehicles over 40 years old that qualify for the historic class. Skipping the renewal because “it’s free anyway” still counts as untaxed — the check will show it.
Sample result — this is what your data looks like
One glance tells you the tax state, both expiry dates and the figures that set the tax rate. If the vehicle were untaxed or SORN, that state would be shown here just as clearly. (Sample data shown for illustration.)
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to check car tax?
Yes. Checking any vehicle’s tax status, due date and band on MOTBuddy is completely free and needs only the registration number.
Does car tax transfer when I buy a car?
No. Since October 2014 tax is cancelled when a car is sold. The buyer must tax the vehicle in their own name before driving it.
Can I drive a car with no tax if I’ve just bought it?
Not legally. You must tax it first — this can be done online in a few minutes using the details from the new keeper slip (V5C/2).
What is SORN?
A Statutory Off Road Notification tells the DVLA a vehicle is kept off public roads and will not be driven. A SORN vehicle needs no tax or insurance, but must not be used or parked on a public road.
How much is car tax for my vehicle?
It depends on registration date, fuel and CO₂ emissions. This check shows the emissions and engine details that set your rate; post-2017 cars pay a £195 standard rate at current rates after the first year.
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