3 Car Tax Rules You Should Follow

Every vehicle registered in the United Kingdom must be taxed if you use it on a public road.  If you don’t tax your car it could be wheel clamped or removed.

Here are three basic car tax rules that you should always follow.

Tax your car

If you use your car on a public road you should always ensure that it is taxed.  In order to tax your car you will need:

• A completed tax disc application form (a V11 reminder or a V10 ‘application for a tax disc’)
• A current MOT certificate if your car is over three years old
• Your registration certificate, New Keeper section or a completed V62 ‘Application for a Vehicle Registration Certificate V5C’ (if you don’t have a registration certificate)
• Proof of current, valid insurance that covers you for at least third party claims for death/injury and damage to property caused by the car
• The requisite payment (unless your car is exempt from road tax)

Display your tax disc

Once you have bought your car tax you have to display the tax disc on the passenger side of your car’s windscreen.  The tax disc must be displayed on the car it was bought for and you cannot transfer a tax disc between vehicles.  You should not display the new tax disc until your old tax disc has expired.

The maximum penalty for failure to display a current tax disc is £200.

There is now a short exemption for not displaying a tax disc if you use the electronic vehicle licensing service or tax by post at the end of the month.  This exemption covers the first five working days of the month to allow time for the new disc to arrive in the post.

While you are awaiting the new tax disc you should display your current tax disc.

Update your details if you no longer own the car

If you don’t let DVLA know that you sell, transfer or scrap your car you will continue to be responsible for taxing it even though you no longer own it.

When you dispose of your car you should fill in the appropriate section of your registration certificate and send it to DVLA.