Car tax, also known as road tax, officially known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), is a mandatory fee for keeping a vehicle on public roads in the UK. It's administered by the DVLA and must be paid annually (or monthly via direct debit). The amount you pay depends on your vehicle’s emissions, fuel type, and registration date.

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Some cars are exempt, such as cars registered as SORN, but regardless, it still needs to be registered as taxed. If it isn’t, you could be charged an £80 fine (rising to £1,000 if ignored) or taken to court.

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How Can You Check If Your Car is Taxed?

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Checking your car tax status is quick, free and can be done online. Visit the official DVLA car tax checker and enter your registration number. You’ll instantly see:

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• Whether your vehicle is taxed
  
  
• The tax expiry date
  
  
• Whether it has a valid MOT
  
  

You don’t need to log in or create an account, so it literally takes just a couple seconds to check. If your vehicle shows as untaxed, act immediately, even if you believe the record is wrong - in fact, especially if you believe the record is wrong.

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What Happens If Your Car Isn’t Taxed?

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If your vehicle is untaxed and parked or driven on a public road, the DVLA may issue a fine, clamp your car, or refer the case to a debt collection agency. Enforcement is automated and based on number plate recognition (ANPR) systems linked to DVLA data.

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Some people may argue, ‘well I have a car but it doesn’t go on public roads’. You still need to register. It’s just a different type of registration, called SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification). If you have a car that you are not using, for whatever reason, get it registered as SORN, otherwise you will still be liable to penalty charges. And if your car is registered as SORN, but you are caught driving on public roads, you could be fined up to £2,500, taken to court, or have your car impounded.

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Forgetting to tax your car is not considered a valid excuse, even for one day over. If you’re found driving without tax, you could be fined up to £1,000. Cars left untaxed and uninsured for over 28 days may also be registered under the Continuous Insurance Enforcement (CIE) scheme, which carries its own penalties.

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Why Your Car May Show as Untaxed (Even If You Just Bought It)

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If you recently bought a second-hand car, you may assume the tax carries over, but it doesn’t. Car tax is non-transferable in the UK. This means that even if the previous owner had 6 months of tax remaining, it is automatically cancelled once the vehicle is registered in your name.

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This is a common reason why freshly purchased vehicles appear as “untaxed” when checked online. Always log in to the DVLA website or use the tax your vehicle portal as soon as the car is in your possession, even if you paid the dealer or assumed it was already sorted.

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Can You Drive to an MOT Without Car Tax?

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Yes, but only under one specific circumstance: you’re allowed to drive a car that is untaxed only if you're travelling to a pre-booked MOT appointment. If you're pulled over, you must be able to prove the test was scheduled and taking place that day.

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Driving for any other reason without tax is not allowed. You can’t use this exemption to stop for petrol, pick up passengers, or make other detours. If your vehicle fails the MOT, it must be towed or repaired before it can be legally driven again, even for another test.

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What Cars Are Exempt From Car Tax?

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There are some cars which are exempt, but they must still be registered as taxed via the DVLA.

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It’s also worth noting that from April 2025, EV cars are no longer exempt from road tax. However, in the first year, you only have to pay the lowest rate, which is £10. After that, you move to the standard rate which is £195 as of 2025.

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Other than that, the following types of cars are exempt from road tax:

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• Cars with a SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notification) - as mentioned above, these are cars not being used on public roads
  
  
• Cars used by those with a disability - you can check if you are eligible on this DVLA page
  
  
• Historic cars - cars that had their first registration 40 years ago
  
  

Nevertheless, you need to register your car as taxed in some way or another so check immediately if you are unsure on the DVLA car tax checker. If you’re looking into car tax because you’re looking into getting a new car, Ayan can handle both of those for you, so make sure you sign up if that’s you! Drive safe (and taxed)!

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