Check Road Tax
Road tax check
Enter a UK registration to see the current road tax status, expiry date and tax band. Free, instant, no account required. If you are buying a used car, the tax status tells you whether the vehicle is legally on the road and gives you a clear picture of the annual running cost.
Why Check Car Road Tax Status?
Driving untaxed can mean fines up to £1,000, plus clamping or impounding. A quick reg check confirms tax status before you buy or drive.
- Buying used? Tax cancels automatically at change of keeper. You must retax it yourself, even if the seller had months left.
- Driving legally? No tax and no SORN means DVLA cameras can catch it. Fines up to £1,000, clamping or impounding.
- Budgeting? The tax band shown tells you the annual cost upfront.
- Judging the car? Consistent tax and MOT history suggests a car kept in good order; long untaxed gaps can mean it sat unused.
Free, instant, straight from DVLA records.
Current Status And Expiry
The check returns whether the vehicle is currently taxed or untaxed and the date the tax is due to expire. If the car is untaxed and no SORN is in place, it should not be on a public road. The DVLA uses automatic number plate recognition cameras to detect untaxed vehicles, and penalties include fines up to one thousand pounds, clamping or impounding.
Tax Does Not Transfer With The Car
This catches buyers out every year. When a car is sold and the DVLA processes the keeper change, the existing road tax is cancelled automatically. Even if the seller has months of tax remaining, it stops when you take over. You must tax the vehicle in your own name before driving it away. You can tax a vehicle online at GOV.UK using the V5C reference number or the green new-keeper slip.
Tax Bands and Annual Cost
The annual tax cost depends on CO2 emissions, fuel type and date of first registration. The check returns the vehicle tax band so you can see the annual cost before buying.
Registration date | How tax is calculated |
|---|---|
Before March 2001 | Engine size (under or over 1549cc) |
March 2001 to March 2017 | CO2 emissions band (13 bands, A to M) |
April 2017 onward | Flat standard rate after year one, plus supplement if list price exceeded £40,000 |
Electric vehicles | Currently zero-rated, but scheduled to change |
The RAC road tax guide explains the full band structure including the first-year rates for newer cars. If the car is close to a band boundary, even a small difference in CO2 output can change the annual cost significantly.
Sorn: Declared Off The Road
A SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) means the owner has declared the vehicle is not being used on a public road. A SORN is legal and common for seasonal vehicles, cars awaiting repair, or vehicles in storage. It does not affect the car history or condition, but it means you cannot drive the car until you tax and insure it. If you are buying a car on SORN, arrange collection by trailer or tax and insure it at the point of purchase before driving away.
Tax Status As A Buying Signal
Emissions And Ulez Impact On Tax
Part Of The Free Check
Road tax status is included in the free REGUP check alongside MOT status, vehicle details and mileage. Start with the free vehicle check to see the basics, then upgrade to a paid report for finance, stolen and write-off protection.
Check Road Tax FAQs
Can I check road tax by registration number?
Yes. Enter the UK registration number and REGUP will show the free road tax check flow where available.
Is the road tax check free?
Yes. This road tax check is treated as a free item and does not go through paid checkout.
Does this replace official tax payment?
No. REGUP helps you check tax status and estimate information. Vehicle tax payment and official records remain with GOV.UK and DVLA services.
Can I buy more checks after the free result?
Yes. You can unlock paid checks such as finance, stolen, write-off, valuation or full car history if you need more detail.
Does road tax transfer when I buy a car?
Yes. It uses DVLA data and is free by registration. No account required.
Do electric cars pay road tax?
Currently no, but this is scheduled to change. Check the latest position on GOV.UK.
Can I tax a car online?
Yes. Use the V5C reference number or new-keeper slip at GOV.UK/vehicle-tax.
What happens if I drive without tax?
Fines up to £1,000, clamping or the vehicle being impounded. DVLA cameras detect untaxed vehicles automatically.
Ready to run road tax check?
Enter the registration above and continue with the existing REGUP report flow.