Unlike in the past, if you buy a vehicle from a private owner or commercial forecourt, you’ll need to buy some car tax before driving away. The tax or SORN no longer goes with a car, even if you are giving your car to a family member. In addition to road tax, you must also purchase car insurance before driving your new vehicle away.
How to tax a vehicle you’ve just bought?
To tax your shiny new car, you’ll need one of the following:
- Log book (V5C) if the car is registered in your name – use the 11-digit number.
- New keeper supplement slip (V5C/2) if you are the proud new owner of the vehicle – use the 12-digit reference number.
Once you have one of these numbers, you can go to your local Post Office or tax online.
Transferring vehicle ownership
You must tell the DVLA when you transfer ownership of a car. You can do this online on the DVLA website.
Tax refund
You’ll receive an automatic tax refund when you tell the DVLA that you have:
- sold or transferred your vehicle
- scrapped it
- exported it
- taken your vehicle off the road and made a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification)
- got a vehicle that’s exempt from vehicle tax
You’ll usually receive a cheque within 4-6 weeks.
For more information, visit the government website.
