Road tax facts
Things to know before you buy a used car
How a road tax check impacts on your buying decision
You can check if a car is taxed using our free CarVeto database. You’ll get more information including vehicle details, MOT status and if the car is currently registered as insured.
Use our vehicle tax check for an instant result
A recent blog post of ours discussed how the askMID database plays an important role in deciding if a used car is worthy of buying, or not.
When buying a car for sale privately, an important free check is offered by CarVeto to see if the vehicle is currently held on the National Insurance Database as legally insured. It is good information to know before you buy as uninsured vehicle’s present a red flag.
The only time a vehicle should not be insured is during ‘classified as off the road’ Statatory Off Road Notification (SORN). In such cases, the seller must also declare the SORN status to a potential buyer. This also means the vehicle will not have an up to date road tax license.
Similarly, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) presents another opportunity to ensure a seller holds the vehicle in legal status.
Alongside vehicle insurance, the vehicle must be taxed. CarVeto provides a free car tax check as part of our initial, free report. All you need is a vehicle registration number (VRM) to get instant information.
Find out if a vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or has been registered as off the road (SORN). It can take up to 5 working days for records to update.
Car tax check facts:
- Unless classified as SORN a privately-owned UK vehicle must be taxed and insured always
- Motorists cannot add road tax to their car without a certificate of motor insurance
- Vehicles must be taxed even if there is nothing to pay for the license i.e. the registered keeper is exempt due to disability
Vehicle requirements
- Must be registered with the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
- Have up to date vehicle tax (managed by the registered keeper)
- Have a current MOT certificate
- Be roadworthy
- Be insured – such insurance must be a minimum of third party and cover use to drive the vehicle
- Have a recent reminder (V11) or warning letter from DVLA known as ‘last chance’
- Have a V5C vehicle registration document (logbook) that is registered in your name or the ‘new keepers supplement’ slip (V5C/2) if you are just buying the vehicle
You can pay for road tax by debit or credit card, or month by month via Direct Debit
Taxing a vehicle? Useful information
- Beyond 1st April 2017, a vehicle’s list price (over £40,000) and fuel type determine the road tax rate
- From 1st March 2001 to 31st March 2017 the fuel type and CO2 emissions determine the road tax rate
- Prior to 1st March 2001, a higher rate of road tax applies when the engine size exceeds 1549cc. Engines below this size pay a single rate of duty.
- Finally, there road tax rate applied changed in a car’s first year, from April 2017 but remains largely based on CO2 emissions output
CarVeto provides a range of car history guides and facts to help UK motorists make clear, informed choices when buying a second-hand vehicle.