Check vehicle tax.
Status in seconds.
Confirm any vehicle is taxed and legal to be on the road — its tax due date, SORN status and MOT status, straight from DVLA records.
To check if a vehicle is taxed, enter its registration above. The DVLA record will show one of three states: Taxed (with the date it expires), SORN (declared off the road) or Untaxed. Only a taxed vehicle — or one with a valid SORN kept off public roads — is legal.
The three tax states — what each one means
Taxed
The vehicle has current Vehicle Excise Duty paid and may be used and kept on public roads, provided it is also insured and (if old enough) has a valid MOT. This check shows the exact date the tax expires.
SORN
A Statutory Off Road Notification is in force. The vehicle needs no tax, insurance or MOT, but in return it must be kept off public roads — on a drive, in a garage or on private land — and must not be driven except to a pre-booked MOT appointment.
Untaxed
No tax and no SORN. If the vehicle is on a public road — even just parked there — the keeper is committing an offence and risks DVLA penalties, clamping and prosecution. An untaxed result on a vehicle you own means: tax it online now, or declare SORN if it is off the road.
How to tax a vehicle if it is not taxed
- Online — the fastest route. You need the reference number from the V5C log book, the green new-keeper slip (V5C/2) if you have just bought the vehicle, or the reminder letter (V11).
- By phone — the DVLA vehicle tax line takes payment by card or Direct Debit.
- At a Post Office — take the V5C or V11 plus a valid MOT certificate where applicable, and payment or bank details.
You can pay for 6 or 12 months, or set up a monthly Direct Debit. Remember the vehicle must have a valid MOT (if it is over 3 years old) before tax can be issued — check its MOT status in the same result.
Why a vehicle you just bought shows as untaxed
Tax does not transfer between keepers. The moment a sale is registered, the seller’s tax is cancelled and any full remaining months are refunded to the seller automatically. As the buyer, the vehicle is untaxed in your name until you tax it yourself — do this before driving away, not when you get home. Dealers and private sellers cannot legally “include” remaining tax, whatever the advert says.
Enforcement: how untaxed vehicles are caught
The DVLA database is checked continuously, and an untaxed vehicle with no SORN generates an automatic penalty without anyone seeing the vehicle. On the road, police and DVLA camera vans read number plates with ANPR and match them against the same database in real time. Powers include wheel-clamping, impounding, and fines of up to £1,000 on prosecution — plus the back-tax owed since the tax lapsed.
Checking a vehicle that is not yours
Tax records are public for a reason: anyone can confirm a vehicle is legal. Buyers check before viewing, neighbours check abandoned vehicles, and fleets check their own vans. The keeper is not notified, and no personal details about them are ever shown — the record covers the vehicle only.
How much vehicle tax will you pay?
The amount depends on the vehicle, not on the check. For most cars registered on or after 1 April 2017, GOV.UK lists the standard rate as £200 a year, or £210 in total if you pay monthly by Direct Debit. Six months costs £110 in one payment, or £105 by Direct Debit. The first year is different: it is based on CO2 emissions and is paid by the first keeper.
Cars with a list price over £40,000 pay an extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate for five years from the second year. For electric cars the supplement starts at a list price of £50,000. Older cars are taxed differently: cars registered between 2001 and 2017 pay by CO2 band, and cars registered before March 2001 pay by engine size. Some vehicles pay nothing at all, including historic vehicles and vehicles used by disabled people, but their keepers must still complete the tax process at no cost.
When to check again, and what to do if the result looks wrong
Check again after you tax a vehicle. GOV.UK says the tax record can take up to 2 working days to update, so a result that still shows the old status on the same day does not always mean the payment failed. A monthly Direct Debit that fails can also leave a vehicle showing untaxed, even though the keeper meant to pay. The DVLA also sends a V11 reminder before the tax runs out, so keep the address on your V5C up to date.
If the result is still wrong after a few days, check the details on your V5C first. The DVLA record follows that document, so a wrong colour, fuel type or date of first registration on the V5C will show up in the check too. Contact the DVLA if the record is wrong, and do not drive on a public road until the result shows taxed or a valid SORN is in place. Tax starts from the beginning of the month in which you pay, so check the due date the result shows, not just the word taxed.
What a vehicle tax check does not show
A tax check only answers tax questions. It does not show the keeper’s name or address, and it does not show insurance, outstanding finance, whether the vehicle was stolen or written off, its mileage or its MOT advisories. For insurance, use the askMID service. For MOT history and advisories, use the GOV.UK MOT history service. For finance, theft or a write-off, you need a full history check.
If you see a vehicle on the road that you believe is untaxed, you can report it to the DVLA through GOV.UK. You will need the registration number and, if you know it, the make, model, colour and where the vehicle is. You do not need to be the keeper to report it, and the DVLA will check its own records before taking action.
Sample result — this is what your data looks like
The result always states the vehicle’s position in plain terms — taxed, SORN or untaxed — with the dates that matter. (Sample data shown for illustration.)
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if a vehicle is taxed?
Enter the registration above. The DVLA record shows Taxed (with expiry date), SORN or Untaxed instantly, and the check is free.
My vehicle shows untaxed but I pay monthly. Why?
Monthly Direct Debits renew automatically, so a gap usually means a payment failed or the vehicle was recently transferred to you. Tax it again immediately to stay legal, then investigate the payment.
Can a SORN vehicle be parked on the road?
No. SORN vehicles must be kept off public roads entirely. A SORN vehicle found on the road can be clamped and the keeper fined.
Do I need tax if my vehicle is MOT-exempt?
Yes — tax and MOT are separate obligations. Even £0-rate vehicles (such as qualifying historic vehicles) must complete the annual tax process.
When does my vehicle tax start if I pay today?
Tax starts from the beginning of the month in which you pay (or the following month if the vehicle was untaxed and you choose). There is no way to backdate cover to a date before the gap — another reason not to let tax lapse.