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Car tax check

See whether a car is taxed, declared off the road (SORN) or untaxed, and the date its tax is due, from DVLA records. We also estimate what it will cost to tax for a year at 2026/27 rates. It is free and takes seconds.

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What this check shows

  • Tax status: taxed, SORN or untaxed
  • The date the tax is due
  • Yearly vehicle tax at 2026/27 rates, for cars
  • Which tax scheme applies, based on when the car was first registered
  • The CO2 band, for cars registered from March 2001 to March 2017
  • Whether the expensive car supplement could apply
See it in the sample report

Tax does not come with the car

The most important thing to know about car tax when buying is that it never transfers to a new keeper. When the seller tells the DVLA the car has been sold, their tax is cancelled. You must tax the car yourself before you drive it away, even if the check shows months left. You can do it online with the reference number on the green new keeper slip from the logbook.

So why check the tax status at all? Because it tells you about the car's recent life. An untaxed car that has been on the road is worth a question. A car with a SORN has been declared off the road, which might mean a project car, a car in storage or one waiting for repairs, so ask the seller which. If it has been off the road for a long time, check its MOT too: a SORN car can only be driven on the road to a pre-booked MOT test.

How we work out the yearly cost

Vehicle tax depends on when the car was first registered. Cars registered from 1 April 2017 pay the standard rate of £200 a year from the second year. If the list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars from 1 April 2026), there is an extra £440 a year for five years, from years 2 to 6. The DVLA does not record list prices, so for a car young enough for the supplement we show both figures. We also show which scheme applies, so you can see how the figure was reached.

Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay by CO2 band, from £20 a year in bands A and B to £790 in band M. Cars registered before March 2001 pay by engine size: £230 a year up to 1549cc and £375 above that. Vehicles built before 1 January 1986 can apply for the free historic class. Our car tax guide has the full table.

What it means for your budget

Tax can separate two otherwise similar cars. A car in band C costs £35 a year, while one in band K costs £445. A car on the standard rate costs £200, or £640 while the supplement applies. Electric cars registered from April 2017 pay the standard rate like any other car, and those registered between 2001 and 2017 pay £20. Our running costs check adds a year of fuel to the tax figure, so you can compare cars like for like.

The estimate covers cars only. Vans, motorbikes and other vehicle types have their own rates, which GOV.UK lists in its vehicle tax rate tables. Once you have bought, set a free tax reminder so the renewal never catches you out.

Questions

Car tax check: common questions

Does car tax transfer when you buy a used car?
No. Tax never passes to a new keeper. The seller's tax is cancelled when the DVLA is told about the sale, and you need to tax the car before you drive it. You can do it online in a few minutes using the green new keeper slip.
What does SORN mean?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It means the keeper has told the DVLA the car is kept off public roads, so it does not need to be taxed. A SORN car can only be driven on the road to a pre-booked MOT test.
Why do you show two possible figures for a newer car?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay an extra £440 a year for five years if their list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars). The DVLA does not record the list price, so we show the standard rate and the higher rate. Ask the seller what the car cost new if you are not sure.
Is an untaxed car a problem?
Not in itself, because you have to tax it anyway. But an untaxed car that has been driven on the road is worth asking about. It costs 3 points on the Vettly Score.
Are classic cars free to tax?
Vehicles built before 1 January 1986 can apply for the historic vehicle class in 2026/27, which costs nothing. It is not automatic, because the keeper has to apply. The free check flags cars that are old enough.

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