How to Tax Your Car Without a V5C

Why You Need a V5C to Tax Your Car

Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — commonly called road tax — must be paid for any vehicle used or kept on a public road in the UK, unless the vehicle has a valid SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). The DVLA links tax records to the registered keeper on the V5C, which is why the logbook is normally needed to apply for or renew tax.

Since 2014, physical tax discs have no longer been displayed in vehicles — tax is now recorded electronically by the DVLA. Police and DVLA enforcement officers use ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras linked directly to the DVLA database to identify untaxed vehicles, so there is no longer any way to avoid detection by simply removing a physical disc.

Situation 1: You Just Bought a Car (New Keeper)

When you buy a used car privately, the seller should hand you the yellow new keeper supplement — this is Section 10 of the V5C (sometimes called the V5C/2). It is the tear-off portion of the logbook that the seller keeps temporarily until the DVLA processes the change of ownership. As the new keeper, this slip allows you to tax the vehicle immediately without having a full V5C in your name.

You can use the new keeper supplement to tax the vehicle in three ways:

1. Online:Go to GOV.UK and use the "Tax your vehicle" service. You'll need the 11-digit reference number from the new keeper slip.
2. By phone: Call the DVLA on 0300 123 4321 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Have the new keeper slip reference number ready.
3. At a Post Office: Take the new keeper slip to any Post Office that handles DVLA transactions. You will also need valid insurance for the vehicle.

Your new V5C in your name will arrive by post within approximately 5 working days from the DVLA.

Situation 2: You Are the Existing Keeper and Have Lost Your V5C

If you have been the registered keeper for some time but have lost your V5C, you cannot renew your tax online without it. However, you have two options:

Option A: Apply for a Replacement V5C First

Complete DVLA form V62 (Application for a vehicle registration certificate). The V62 form is available at Post Offices, DVLA regional offices, and to download from GOV.UK. You pay the £25 replacement fee and submit the form by post or in person. The DVLA will issue a new V5C within 5 working days.

Option B: Tax at a Post Office Counter with a V62

Most Post Offices that handle DVLA transactions will allow you to tax your vehicle using a completed V62 application — even before the replacement V5C arrives. Take the V62 along with your valid insurance certificate (or the insurance document reference number) and, if applicable, a valid MOT certificate. The Post Office will process the tax application while you submit the V62 at the same time.

What If I Can't Tax the Vehicle While I Wait?

If your vehicle's tax expires before you can renew it and you genuinely cannot use the vehicle in the meantime, you must declare the vehicle SORN. A SORN means the vehicle is off the road and stored on private land. A SORN vehicle does not need to be taxed, but it cannot legally be driven or parked on any public road, including outside your house.

You can declare SORN online at GOV.UK, by phone on 0300 123 4321, or by post using form V890. SORN is free and takes effect immediately when applied for online or by phone. A SORN remains in force until the vehicle is taxed again, sold, or scrapped.

Taxing a Motorbike Without a V5C

The process for motorbikes, mopeds, and motorcycles is identical to that for cars. The new keeper slip works the same way, and the V62 replacement process applies equally. If you have just bought a motorbike at a dealer, the dealer will typically handle the tax and registration transfer on your behalf.

Tax Costs — What You'll Pay

VED rates vary depending on the vehicle's fuel type, CO2 emissions, and the year it was first registered. You can check the applicable rate for any vehicle by entering the registration number on the DVLA's Vehicle Enquiry Service at GOV.UK. Zero-emission vehicles (including electric cars) registered before April 2025 pay £0 VED, while vehicles registered from April 2025 will be subject to the standard minimum rate. Classic vehicles first registered before 1 January 1979 are tax-exempt.