How to check if a car is taxed in the UK
You can check whether any UK-registered vehicle is taxed for free using the DVLA's vehicle enquiry service. All you need is the registration number. The check is instant and available to anyone, not just the owner - which makes it useful whether you are checking your own car, a vehicle you are about to buy, or one parked near you.
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How to check a car's tax status
The DVLA provides a free, public vehicle enquiry service at GOV.UK. To check a vehicle:
- Go to the vehicle enquiry tool on GOV.UK (search "check car tax DVLA" to find it).
- Enter the vehicle's registration number.
- The result shows: current tax status (taxed, not taxed or SORN), the date the tax expires if taxed, MOT expiry date, and engine size and colour.
The check is free and does not require you to create an account or provide any personal information. It is designed to be used by anyone.
What SORN means
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. If a vehicle shows as SORN, the owner has declared to the DVLA that the vehicle is kept off public roads and not being driven. A SORN vehicle must not be driven on public roads and cannot be parked on a public road.
A vehicle under SORN has no road tax liability as long as it remains off public roads. To take the vehicle back onto the road, the owner must re-tax it before driving.
What happens if tax has expired?
A vehicle showing as "tax not taxed" and not SORN is untaxed and should not be on public roads. Driving an untaxed vehicle is a criminal offence. The penalty for driving without tax is an £80 fixed penalty (reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days), or a fine of up to £1,000 if the case goes to court.
Untaxed vehicles are identified directly from DVLA's own vehicle tax register, which automatically triggers a penalty letter to the registered keeper. ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras operated by police and local authorities also detect untaxed vehicles being driven on public roads. Untaxed vehicles parked on public roads can be clamped or towed.
What is the penalty for no vehicle tax?
The penalty depends on exactly what DVLA has recorded. If your vehicle simply shows as untaxed on DVLA's register, an automatic late licensing penalty letter is issued for £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days. If you ignore it, DVLA can refer the debt to a collection agency.
If you are caught actually using or driving an untaxed vehicle on a public road, the penalty is higher. DVLA issues an out of court settlement of £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding vehicle tax. If that is not paid, the case can go to the magistrates' court, where the fine is either £1,000 or five times the amount of tax owed, whichever is greater.
Driving a vehicle that has been declared SORN is treated more seriously still. The out of court settlement rises to £30 plus twice the outstanding tax, and a court fine can reach £2,500 or five times the tax owed, whichever is greater.
When does tax not transfer with the car?
Since 2014, road tax no longer transfers with the vehicle when it is sold. If you buy a used car, the seller's tax is cancelled at the point of sale and you must tax the vehicle yourself before driving it on public roads.
This is a common trap for private buyers. Even if the car had several months of tax remaining when you bought it, you cannot drive it legally until you have taxed it in your own name. The DVLA issues a refund to the seller for any complete remaining months - the buyer does not inherit any of it.
How to tax a vehicle
You can tax a vehicle online at GOV.UK, at a Post Office branch, or by phone. You need either:
- The 11-digit reference number from a V5C logbook (if you have just bought the car), or
- The 16-digit reference number from a V11 reminder letter (for renewing existing tax)
Tax is paid monthly (with a small uplift in price) or annually. Payment is direct debit or card. The vehicle must have a valid MOT to be taxed, unless it is exempt from MOT.
What costs can an untaxed vehicle incur?
If DVLA or a local authority clamps an untaxed vehicle, a release fee of £100 applies, payable within 24 hours of clamping. If the vehicle is removed to a pound, an impound release fee of £200 applies, plus a storage fee of £21 per day from the point it is removed.
If you have not taxed the vehicle by the time you collect it, you will also need to pay a surety fee, £160 for cars, motorcycles and light goods vehicles, rising to £330 for buses and heavier goods vehicles, and £700 for exceptional loads. This is refundable if you provide proof of tax within 14 days. Vehicles left unclaimed for the statutory period, between 7 and 14 days, can be sold, broken up or crushed.
How to check MOT status
The DVLA vehicle enquiry also shows the MOT expiry date. For a more detailed MOT history (all previous tests, advisories and failures), use the separate DVSA MOT check, also on GOV.UK. This shows the full test history and any advisory items from previous MOTs - useful when assessing a used car.
Tax status is one of several things worth checking before driving a car you do not own. Temporary car insurance in your own name is another - it means you are not relying on the car owner's policy for cover and their no-claims discount is protected.
Checking before you drive a car you do not own
If you are borrowing a car or test-driving a private sale vehicle, checking the tax and MOT status before setting off is a basic precaution. Driving an untaxed car makes you liable even if the untaxed status was not your fault. Temporary car insurance covers you on a vehicle you do not own, but cannot substitute for the vehicle having valid tax and MOT. Our guide to buying a used car checklist covers the full range of checks worth running before purchasing.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if a car is taxed?
Use the DVLA's free vehicle enquiry service on GOV.UK. Enter the registration number and you will immediately see whether the car is taxed, when the tax expires, and its MOT status. No account or personal details are required.
Is the DVLA vehicle check free?
Yes. The official DVLA vehicle enquiry service is completely free and available to anyone. You only need the vehicle's registration number. Be wary of third-party websites that charge for the same information - the official GOV.UK service has no fee.
Can you drive a car without tax if you have just bought it?
No. Since 2014, road tax no longer transfers when a vehicle is sold. The seller's tax is cancelled at the point of sale. You must tax the vehicle in your own name before driving it on a public road, even if the previous owner had several months remaining.
How do I tax a car if the V5C has not arrived yet?
If you have just bought a used car and the new V5C logbook has not arrived in your name, use the 12-digit reference number on the green V5C/2 new keeper slip instead. This lets you tax the vehicle immediately rather than waiting for the full logbook, which can take several weeks to arrive by post.
What is the penalty for driving without road tax?
An £80 fixed penalty (reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days), or a fine of up to £1,000 if the case goes to court. Untaxed vehicles on public roads can also be clamped or towed by the DVLA or local authority.
Can you drive an untaxed car to an MOT test?
Yes, but only under specific conditions. You can drive an untaxed vehicle, including one declared SORN, directly to a pre-booked MOT appointment. The booking must exist before you set off, you cannot simply drive to a garage on the chance it can fit you in, and the vehicle must be insured for the journey regardless of its tax or MOT status. The route should be direct, with no stops unrelated to the test.
What does SORN mean on a vehicle check?
SORN means Statutory Off Road Notification. The owner has declared the vehicle is kept off public roads and not being driven. A SORN vehicle must not be driven or parked on a public road. To use it again, the owner must re-tax it first.
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