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When to apply

If your tax is due to run out at the end of the month, you can renew it from the fifth day of the month.

If your vehicle has been untaxed, because you’ve just bought it, the tax disc has run out or a SORN is in force, you can tax from the first day of the month in which you apply.

If you want the tax disc to start on the first day of the next calendar month, you can tax your vehicle from two working days before the end of the month at a Post Office or five days before the end of the month online or by phone.

Taxing a car, motorcycle or light goods vehicle

You can tax online, by phone, in person or by post.

Tax online or by phone

If you're the registered keeper, you can renew your tax by using the reference number on your Registration Certificate (V5C).

• Apply for a tax disc online or by phone

Tax with a Registration Certificate or New Keeper Supplement – in person or by post

You can tax in person at any Post Office® branch that issues tax discs.

You will need to take:

• Registration Certificate or New Keeper Supplement
• insurance certificate or cover note – must be valid when the tax disc comes into force
• valid MOT certificate - if the car or motorcycle is over three years old - must be valid when the tax disc comes into force
• the payment for vehicle tax (not needed if your vehicle is exempt from paying vehicle tax)

You can also tax at a DVLA local office or by post to selected Post Office® branches.

You will need:

• Registration Certificate or New Keeper Supplement
• a completed V10 'Vehicle licence application'
• insurance certificate or cover note – must be valid when the tax disc comes into force
• valid MOT certificate - if the car or motorcycle is over three years old - must be valid when the tax disc comes into force
• the payment for vehicle tax (not needed if your vehicle is exempt from paying vehicle tax)

The New Keeper Supplement can only be used for taxing at the Post Office for two months from the date you bought your vehicle. However, the DVLA Local Office will accept it for taxing up to thirteen months from your purchase date. If it’s out of date, you’ll need to apply for a Registration Certificate in your name – please see Taxing without a Registration Certificate or New Keeper Supplement’ below.

• Insurance and MOT

• The cost of vehicle tax

• Taxing in the disabled tax class

• Find your nearest DVLA local office

Application forms V10 and V62

You can download the V10 or V62 or collect them from any Post Office® branch or DVLA local office.

• Download 'Vehicle licence application - form V10' (PDF, 210K) Opens new window

• Download 'Application form for a Vehicle Registration Certificate V5C - form V62' (PDF, 203K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Change of name and or address

Write the new details or correction in section six of your Registration Certificate; sign it and include it with your tax application.

Change of tax class

If you’re changing the tax class from private to disabled, provided you have the whole Registration Certificate, you can tax at a Post Office® branch.

If you only have the New Keeper Supplement and for other tax class changes eg from disabled to private, you’ll need to tax at your nearest DVLA local office. Write the new tax class in section seven of your Registration Certificate. If using a New Keeper Supplement, you’ll also need to fill in a V62 ‘Application for a Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C)’.

• Taxing in the disabled tax class

Change to fuel type or engine size

You’ll need to tax your vehicle at your nearest DVLA local office. Write the new details in section seven of your Registration Certificate.

DVLA will need written evidence of any changes to engine number and cylinder capacity (cc). This can be the receipt for the new engine, or written evidence from the manufacturer, insurance company or garage that carried out the change.

DVLA will need written confirmation of changes to fuel type for vehicles registered after 1 March 2024 if:

• your existing engine is converted - the confirmation must be on headed paper from the garage that carried out the work
• a new engine is fitted - the receipt will be required as confirmation

• Find your nearest Post Office® branch that issues tax discs Opens new window

• Download 'Find your nearest Post Office® branch for postal applications' (PDF, 79K) Opens new window

• Find your nearest DVLA local office

• Help with PDF files

Taxing without a Registration Certificate or New Keeper Supplement

If you’re shown as the registered keeper of the vehicle on DVLA records, you can tax in person or by post at your nearest DVLA local office.

You’ll need to complete a V62 ‘Application for a Vehicle Registration Certificate (V5C) which must be accompanied by £25 (fee for a duplicate Registration Certificate). Include this with a completed V10 ‘Vehicle licence application’, MOT, insurance and payment for vehicle tax.

If your address has changed, you’ll need to provide your driving licence, original bank or building society statement or recent utility bill. If your name has changed, you need to provide your marriage certificate, decree nisi, decree absolute or deed poll.

If you’re not shown as the registered keeper on DVLA records you cannot tax the vehicle. You’ll need to apply for a Registration Certificate in your name. To get one, fill in form V62 ‘Application for a Vehicle Registration Certificate’ and post to DVLA, Swansea SA99 1DD. You may have to wait up to four weeks for a new certificate to arrive. In the meantime, you should keep your vehicle off the road.

Vehicle is due to be taxed while you’re abroad

If you’re going to be abroad when your vehicle tax expires, you can tax online, tax in advance or ask someone to tax for you.

• Vehicle tax due to expire while you’re abroad

Taxing lorries, buses and other types of vehicles

You can tax your vehicle at your nearest DVLA local office using a V10 ‘Vehicle licence application’ or V85 ‘Application for a HGV licence’.

• How to tax a lorry, bus and other vehicles without a reminder