Free Car Tax Check Is Your Vehicle Taxed?
Enter any UK registration below to check if a car is taxed, when the next payment is due, and see the full vehicle record — pulled live from the official DVLA database.
Free · No sign-up · Official DVLA data
What Our Car Tax Check Tells You
Everything you need to know about a vehicle's tax status in one place.
Current Tax Status
Instantly see whether the vehicle is "Taxed", "Untaxed", or registered as SORN (off-road).
Tax Due Date
The exact date the tax needs to be renewed, so you can avoid a fine or a clamp.
CO2 Emissions Band
Useful for working out roughly what the tax will cost based on emissions category.
Vehicle Make & Model
Cross-reference the make and model DVLA holds against what the seller has told you.
Year of Manufacture
Important for pre-2001 vehicles which are taxed on engine size rather than emissions.
Fuel Type
Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric — relevant for tax rates and low-emission zone charges.
Why Check Your Car Tax?
Since 2014 the paper tax disc has been abolished, which means there is nothing on the car itself to tell you whether it is currently taxed. The only way to know for sure is to check the DVLA record directly — which is exactly what this tool does.
Driving an untaxed vehicle on a public road is illegal. The DVLA uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to spot untaxed cars, and the minimum penalty is a £80 fine that can rise to £1,000 if unpaid. Your vehicle can also be clamped or impounded.
If you are thinking of buying a used car, a tax check also tells you whether the previous owner has been keeping on top of their obligations. A long-untaxed vehicle can indicate wider problems with the seller's paperwork. Run a quick check before you hand over any money.
This tool is also useful if you have multiple vehicles and lose track of renewal dates, or if you have just bought a car and want to double-check what the dealer told you.
Never Forget to Tax Your Car Again
For a single payment of £3.99 we will email you 30, 14, 7 and 1 days before your car tax (and MOT) expires, for a full 12 months. Upgrade to £10.99 to add SMS alerts on top. One payment, no auto-renewal.
Car Tax Check — FAQs
How can I tell if a car is taxed?
Enter the registration number into our free check above. We query the DVLA in real time and tell you whether the vehicle is currently taxed, untaxed, or declared SORN, along with the next due date.
Can I check car tax without the log book?
Yes. You do not need a V5C log book, VIN number or any personal documents — just the registration plate. The DVLA data is public.
What does SORN mean on a car tax check?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. It means the keeper has told DVLA the vehicle is off public roads and therefore does not need to be taxed or insured. A SORN vehicle cannot legally be driven on a public road.
How much does it cost to tax a car in the UK?
It depends on the vehicle. Cars registered after April 2017 use a flat rate based on CO2 emissions; older cars use emissions bands or engine size. Our tax check does not calculate the exact cost, but it shows the vehicle details you need to look it up on the gov.uk tax rates page.
Is the car tax check data accurate?
Yes — it comes directly from the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service, the official source. Updates from DVLA are reflected in real time.