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Qualifying benefits for your exemption certificate

To tax your vehicle in the disabled tax class and get a free tax disc you must be receiving one of the following qualifying benefits:

• higher rate of the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
• War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

On receipt of one of these benefits, you may be entitled to an exemption certificate. You will need this to get your free tax disc.

Your exemption certificate could be the:

• Certificate of Entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• annual Certificate of Entitlement
• DLA 404 Certificate
• MHS330 Certificate (Disabled Passenger Scheme only)
• WPA0442 War Pensioners Mobility Certificate.

War Pensioners Mobility Supplement claimants will have the WPA0442 Certificate, issued by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

• Service Personnel and Veterans Agency

All other exemption certificates listed above are issued by the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service.

• Who to contact about disability and carers benefits

The exemption certificate must be valid and can only be used to tax one vehicle at a time.

Disability Living Allowance – your exemption certificate explained

In October 2011, the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) introduced a new exemption certificate called the Certificate of Entitlement to DLA. You can use this new re-usable certificate to get a free tax disc if they remain entitled to the higher rate mobility component of DLA.

Annual Certificate of Entitlement holders (issued October 2010 - October 2011) will be automatically issued with the new certificate.

You can continue to use the DLA404 certificate until it is full or has expired then contact PDCS for the new re-usable certificate.

The DVLA leaflet INS216 will be included with your re-usable certificate, explaining how to get your free tax disc.

• Who to contact about disability and carers benefits

• Download 'How to apply for a free disabled tax disc - INS216' (PDF, 246K)

• Help with PDF files

Taxing in the disabled tax class for the first time

Applying for the first free tax disc is different from renewing it every year.

For new vehicles, you will need to take the exemption certificate and a valid insurance certificate to the dealership.

For used vehicles, you can change the tax class at a Post Office® branch that issues tax discs. You must have your full vehicle registration certificate (V5C), insurance certificate and MOT certificate (if applicable

You will also need to:

• fill in the appropriate sections of your exemption certificate

You’ll need a new certificate if your exemption certificate:

• has expired
• is full (for DLA 404 or WPA0442)
• has been lost, stolen or damaged

You will also need a new certificate if the vehicle or keeper details have changed.

• Vehicle tax for disabled people

• Download 'Exemption from vehicle tax for disabled people' (V188) (PDF, 330K)

• Help with PDF files

How to get a refund on your current tax disc

Once you have your disabled tax disc, you can apply for a refund for any remaining months on your old tax disc.

• How to apply for a refund of vehicle tax

How to renew your free tax disc

The registered keeper should get a ‘Renewal reminder form to tax or make a Statutory Off Road Notification (V11), before the current tax disc expires.

Renewing your tax disc online or by phone

You can renew your tax disc with your V11 or V5C (which shows disabled tax class) online or phone by following the link below.

• Apply for a tax disc online or by phone

Renew at a Post Office® branch that issues tax discs

Take or send the:

• V11 or V5C
• exemption certificate
• insurance certificate or cover note
• MOT certificate (if needed)
• ‘Application for a tax disc’ (V10) together with the V5C if you are applying by post and you do not have a V11

• Download 'Application for a vehicle licence - form V10' (PDF, 210K)

• Help with PDF files

To find your nearest tax disc issuing Post Office® go to www.postoffice.co.uk or phone 0845 722 3344 giving your postcode.

Tax without a Registration Certificate (V5C) or new keeper’s details (V5C/2)

If you’re shown as the registered keeper on DVLA records, you can tax at your nearest DVLA local office. Fill in a V62 ‘Application for a vehicle registration certificate (V5C)'.

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

• Help with PDF files

If you’re not shown as the registered keeper on DVLA records, you cannot tax the vehicle. You must apply for a vehicle registration certificate in your name by filling in form V62. You should keep your vehicle off the road and make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) using the V890 form, whilst your vehicle is untaxed.

• Download 'Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) - V890' (PDF, 160K)

• Help with PDF files

Change of name, address or vehicle details

How you notify the changes will depend if you’re taxing with or without a reminder.

• More about taxing with a reminder

• More about taxing without a reminder

More useful links

• Insurance and MOT needed to tax your vehicle

• 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)

• Find your nearest DVLA local office