How to Pay UK Car Tax:
Online, Phone, and Post Office
You can pay UK car tax (VED) online at GOV.UK, by phone with DVLA, or in person at a Post Office. Monthly and six-monthly Direct Debit options are available with a small surcharge.
Step-by-Step: Tax Your Car Online
Get your documents ready
You need your V5C logbook (registration certificate), or a V11 reminder letter, or the V5C/2 new keeper supplement if you have just bought the car. The reference number is on each of these documents.
Go to gov.uk/vehicle-tax
This is the official DVLA vehicle tax service. Avoid third-party websites - some charge unnecessary admin fees for a service that is free on GOV.UK.
Enter your reference number
Enter the 11-digit reference from your V5C, or the 16-digit reference from your V11 reminder letter. The system will look up your vehicle automatically.
Confirm your vehicle details
Check the registration number, make, model, and CO2 emissions shown. If the details are wrong, do not proceed - contact DVLA to correct the V5C first.
Choose payment frequency
Select annual (cheapest, no surcharge), 6-monthly (10% surcharge, two payments of £110 for a standard-rate car), or monthly Direct Debit (5% surcharge, £17.50/month at standard rate).
Make payment
Pay by debit card, credit card, or set up a Direct Debit. You get instant confirmation on screen and by email. Tax is updated in the DVLA system immediately.
No tax disc needed
Paper tax discs were abolished in October 2014. Police check tax status electronically using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. There is nothing to display in your windscreen.
Payment Frequency Comparison (2026/27 Rates)
| Frequency | Standard (£200) | EV (£10) | Premium (£640) | Surcharge | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual (single payment) | £200 | £10 | £640 | None | Card or Direct Debit |
| 6-monthly (2 payments) | £110 each (£220 total) | £5.50 each (£11 total) | £352 each (£704 total) | 10% added | Direct Debit only |
| Monthly (12 payments) | £17.50/mo (£210/yr) | £0.88/mo (£10.50/yr) | £56/mo (£672/yr) | 5% added | Direct Debit only |
Standard rate = £200/year. Premium rate = £640/year (£200 standard + £440 expensive car supplement for cars over £40,000 list price, years 2-6). EV rate = £200/year (under £50k list price).
Where to Pay
Online (Recommended)
gov.uk/vehicle-tax
Available 24/7
The fastest and easiest way. Go to gov.uk/vehicle-tax. Enter your V5C reference number (11 digits). Pay by debit card, credit card, or set up a Direct Debit. Tax is activated instantly.
By Phone
0300 790 6802
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm
Call DVLA on 0300 790 6802. Have your V5C reference number or V11 reminder ready. Pay by debit or credit card over the phone. The agent will update the record immediately.
Post Office
In person
Post Office hours
Take your V5C logbook (or V5C/2 new keeper supplement) plus your V11 reminder if you have one. Pay by cash, cheque, debit card, or credit card. Not all branches handle vehicle tax - check before visiting.
Documents Needed
V5C Logbook
Most common
The vehicle registration certificate. Contains an 11-digit reference number in section 5. This is what most drivers use when renewing car tax.
V11 Reminder Letter
When DVLA sends one
DVLA sends a V11 reminder letter about one month before your tax expires. It contains a 16-digit reference. Using the V11 makes the online process faster.
V5C/2 New Keeper Supplement
Just bought the car
If you have just bought a second-hand car, the previous keeper will have given you the V5C/2 yellow section. This lets you tax the car immediately without a V5C in your name.
Direct Debit and Refunds
Setting Up Direct Debit
You can set up a Direct Debit online or by phone. DVLA collects the first payment when you set it up, then takes subsequent payments on a fixed date each month or every six months. If you cancel the Direct Debit, your vehicle tax is cancelled automatically.
If a Direct Debit payment fails (e.g. insufficient funds), DVLA will contact you and retry. If the payment still fails, the vehicle tax is cancelled and you must retax the vehicle before driving it.
Refunds When Selling
When you sell or transfer a vehicle, any remaining full months of VED are automatically refunded. DVLA sends a cheque to the address on the V5C. You do not need to apply for the refund - it is issued automatically when you notify DVLA of the sale.
The new owner must tax the vehicle separately before driving it, even if tax is shown as valid on the DVLA system. Tax does not transfer with the vehicle when it changes hands.