Short answer: no. A vehicle on a public road must be taxed, or declared off the road with a SORN. GOV.UK says you must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay anything because it is exempt. Enforcement is automatic, and the penalties are real.
What happens if your car is not taxed?
DVLA checks its database and uses cameras to find untaxed vehicles. According to DVLA’s enforcement policy at the time of writing:
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Late licensing penalty: £80, reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days
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Using or keeping an untaxed vehicle: an out-of-court settlement of £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding tax, or a court fine up to the greater of £1,000 or five times the tax
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Clamping or removal: a £100 clamp release fee, a £200 impound release fee and £21 per day storage, plus a surety fee if the vehicle is still untaxed on release
Check the current figures before relying on them, as DVLA can change them.
Does tax transfer when you buy a car?
No. When you buy a vehicle, the tax or SORN does not come with it. GOV.UK says you must tax it, or make a SORN, before you use it. You can do this online using the reference number on the new keeper supplement (V5C/2).
This catches out many buyers. If you buy a car that “has tax”, the seller’s tax is not yours. Read our guide to the V5C for the paperwork involved.
A SORN, or Statutory Off Road Notification, tells DVLA a vehicle is off the road and not being driven or parked on public roads, for example because it is kept in a garage or on a drive. You then do not need to tax it.
The risk is that a car with a SORN is still not legal to use. DVLA’s policy sets out higher penalties for using a vehicle on the road when a SORN is in place: an out-of-court settlement of £30 plus twice the outstanding tax, or a court fine of up to £2,500 or five times the tax, whichever is greater.
Insurance and tax are separate
Untaxed does not mean uninsured, and vice versa. Both are required. Under continuous insurance enforcement, DVLA’s penalty is £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 33 days, with a maximum court penalty of £1,000. So a car that is both untaxed and uninsured can attract both sets of penalties.
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Use our free tax check to see the tax status by registration
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Read how to check road tax before buying a car
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Work out the cost with the car tax calculator
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Check the tax status, but do not rely on it, as it does not transfer
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Tax the car in your name before driving
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Get insurance in place first
4.
Check the MOT, as that is a separate legal requirement. See Can I drive without an MOT?
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive an untaxed car to an MOT test?
Do not assume so. The MOT exemption covers the MOT itself and not tax. A car on the road still needs to be taxed.
Is tax needed if the car is not used?
If it is kept off public roads, you can make a SORN instead of paying tax.
What if I forgot to renew?
Renew as soon as possible. You may receive a penalty, and paying within the stated period can reduce it.
Will I be told to tax the car?
Not always. Reminders are sent, but you are responsible for renewing even if you do not get one.
Is the tax I see on a car’s record mine?
No. Tax does not transfer, so you need to tax it yourself when you become the keeper.
Start with a free check at carverified.co.uk to see a car’s tax and MOT status, and add finance, write-off and theft checks with a paid report before you pay.