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Insurance cover needed to tax your vehicle

In order to tax your vehicle, you must have insurance cover that:

• covers you against third party claims for death or injury and damage to property caused by using the vehicle
• covers your use of the vehicle for taxing purposes
• is valid on the day the tax disc comes into force

The insurance policy for your vehicle may allow you to drive any other vehicle with the owner’s permission. However, your policy can’t be used as evidence of suitable insurance to tax any other vehicle.

If your insurance cover for taxing purposes isn’t clear, you may need to provide additional evidence. Please contact your insurance company for advice.

Insurance certificates and cover notes

These are usually a printed or laser-printed document, or a plastic credit card style document.

Insurance certificates downloaded directly from the internet by the policy holder are acceptable from 30 April 2023 (this applies to GB only). Fax copies are also acceptable.

The following documents aren't acceptable:

• policy schedule
• renewal notice
• receipt for payment
• amended certificate or cover note - unless stamped or initialled by the insurer
• ‘legal protection’ policy certificates
• foreign certificates
• photocopies
• Green Card (International Motor Insurance Card)

Lost, stolen or damaged insurance certificate

Get a duplicate insurance certificate or cover note from your insurance company.

Waiting for your insurance certificate to arrive in the post or update online

You can't tax your vehicle until your insurance certificate arrives or your insurance cover for your vehicle has been updated on the Motor Insurance Database. You must keep your vehicle off the road in the meantime.

If you are taxing your vehicle using the DVLA’s vehicle online service, then you’ll need to wait until MID has updated before applying. You can check online to see if your insurance has updated.

• Check your vehicle is insured - Askmid Opens new window

If you want to tax your vehicle at a DVLA local office or Post Office® branch, you’ll need to take your insurance certificate.

MOT due dates

An MOT test is needed every year for:

• cars, motorcycles, motor caravans and light goods vehicles that are more than three years old
• passenger carrying vehicles with more than eight seats and taxis (not including private hire vehicles) that are more than one year old

Find out when your MOT is due

You can check the expiry date of your current MOT online by following the link below.

• Check an MOT record online Opens new window

MOT test certificate

You must produce an MOT test certificate that’s valid on the day the tax disc comes into force. The certificate must be original, a photocopy is not acceptable.

Lost, stolen or damaged MOT certificate

Get a duplicate from any MOT testing station for the fee of £10. You’ll need to provide the vehicle registration mark and reference number shown on your registration certificate (V5C).

Claim exemption from MOT testing

If your vehicle is exempt from MOT testing, you’ll need to fill in form V112 ‘Claim for exemption from MOT testing’. You will then be able to produce the form V112 instead of the MOT certificate. A list of exempt vehicles is shown on the V112 form.

• Download ‘Exemption from MOT testing’ - form V112 (PDF, 152K)

• Help with PDF files Opens new window

MOT or insurance has expired

If you intend to renew your vehicle tax you should do so before your current tax disc expires. However, this isn’t always possible if you are waiting for insurance or getting an MOT for your vehicle.

You’ll be committing an offence if you use or keep your vehicle on the public road without a current tax disc. If you can’t get a tax disc, you must remove your vehicle off the road.

You’ll have 14 days to get a tax disc or make a SORN, while your vehicle is off the road.

Driving an untaxed vehicle to an MOT test

You can drive your vehicle to and from a pre-arranged test at an MOT test station as long as you have adequate insurance cover.

This also applies to vehicles being driven to and from a pre-arranged test at:

• a Vehicle Inspection Check (VIC) test station
• an approved weight testing station and reduced pollution test station

More useful links

• General information about motor insurance