Guide
When is my car tax due? Check it in a minute
Vehicle tax is easy to forget for one reason: nothing about it is visible. There is no disc in the windscreen any more, the renewal date rarely matches anything else in the year, and the reminder letter is not guaranteed to land.
This guide covers how to find the date, what happens if you miss it, and how to make the whole thing repeat by itself.
How to check the date
The gov.uk check is the reliable one: it reads the DVLA record rather than a piece of paper that may be out of date or lost.
- Use the vehicle enquiry service on gov.uk with your registration number — it shows whether the vehicle is taxed and when the tax runs out.
- Check the V11 reminder letter from the DVLA, if one has arrived.
- Look at your bank statement if you pay by Direct Debit — the anniversary of the first payment is the renewal point.
Why the reminder sometimes never arrives
The V11 is posted to the address held on the vehicle's record. If you have moved and the log book has not been updated, the letter goes to the old address — and the legal duty to tax the vehicle stays with you regardless.
The same happens after buying a used car: tax does not transfer from the previous keeper, so the vehicle is untaxed from the moment it changes hands, even if the seller had paid for months ahead.
What happens if the tax runs out
An untaxed vehicle on a public road can be picked up automatically by number-plate cameras, without anyone stopping you. Penalties follow, and in some cases the vehicle can be clamped.
If the car is genuinely off the road, a SORN declaration is the correct route — but it must be declared, not assumed.
The dates that tend to move together
Tax cannot be renewed without valid insurance and a current MOT, so a lapsed MOT quietly becomes a tax problem two weeks later. Keeping the three dates in one place is what stops that chain reaction.
- MOT: annually once the vehicle is three years old.
- Insurance: annually, and required before the vehicle can be taxed.
- Vehicle tax: annually, six-monthly, or monthly by Direct Debit.
- Service and cambelt intervals, by mileage or by time.
Setting it so you only do it once
Two weeks of notice is about right: enough time to sort an MOT slot if one is needed, and to renew without rushing.
In MiRicordi you can save the tax date as a yearly reminder with advance notice, alongside the MOT and insurance for the same vehicle, and photograph the V5C or the renewal letter so the details are attached to the date. Alerts arrive even when the app is closed.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check when my car tax is due?
Use the vehicle enquiry service on gov.uk with your registration number. It shows the vehicle's tax status and the date the current tax runs out, taken from the DVLA record.
Does the DVLA always send a reminder?
A V11 reminder is normally posted before the tax runs out, but it goes to the address on the vehicle record. If you have moved or recently bought the car, it may never reach you — and the responsibility stays with the keeper.
Does car tax transfer when I buy a used car?
No. Vehicle tax does not pass to the new keeper: the car must be taxed before it is driven, even if the previous owner had paid for the year ahead.
Can I tax my car without an MOT?
Generally no — a valid MOT is required where the vehicle needs one, along with insurance. This is why a missed MOT often turns into an untaxed vehicle shortly afterwards.
How far ahead should I set a reminder?
Around two weeks. That leaves room to book an MOT if one is due at the same time, rather than discovering the problem on the renewal day itself.