Advice
Tax your car online or at the Post Office (2026 update)
Find out how to tax your car online and in-person to be able to legally drive your car in the UK.
Words by: Nimisha Jain
Published on 31 March 2026 | 0 min read
All cars need to be taxed, insured and have an MOT to be to legally driven on the UK roads.
When you buy a car and become the registered keeper, you also become responsible for taxing and insuring the car. You can tax your car online or in-person at the Post Office, and you can use any one of the following documents to tax your car: • Your car’s logbook, also known as a V5C, or • A V11 tax reminder from the DVLA, or • If you’ve just bought a car, you may have a green ‘new keeper’ slip If you don’t have any of the above documents, you’ll have to order a new logbook from the DVLA. Remember, you must tax your car before you pick it up from the seller to be able to drive it back. You can now tax your vehicle online even if you have lost your V5C logbook and your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11). DVLA have announced a new service update that allows you to apply online for a new V5C and tax your vehicle at the same time. The updated online service is available at www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book (external link). Previously, you would have had to order a replacement V5C and wait five days for it to arrive, and phone DVLA’s Contact Centre to tax your vehicle.
When you buy a car and become the registered keeper, you also become responsible for taxing and insuring the car. You can tax your car online or in-person at the Post Office, and you can use any one of the following documents to tax your car: • Your car’s logbook, also known as a V5C, or • A V11 tax reminder from the DVLA, or • If you’ve just bought a car, you may have a green ‘new keeper’ slip If you don’t have any of the above documents, you’ll have to order a new logbook from the DVLA. Remember, you must tax your car before you pick it up from the seller to be able to drive it back. You can now tax your vehicle online even if you have lost your V5C logbook and your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11). DVLA have announced a new service update that allows you to apply online for a new V5C and tax your vehicle at the same time. The updated online service is available at www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book (external link). Previously, you would have had to order a replacement V5C and wait five days for it to arrive, and phone DVLA’s Contact Centre to tax your vehicle.
How to tax your car online
You can tax your car online on Gov.uk.
Once you’re on Gov.uk, you’ll have to use one of three documents mentioned above – your logbook, V11 reminder or your new keeper slip - to get your 16-digit reference number. Once you’ve got that and filled it in, you’ll be able to see when your car’s tax status. Then, you can choose how you want to pay. You can either pay by direct debit or card, and you can choose to pay for six months or 12 months at once. You’ll then be given a summary of your car and its tax details. Once you’ve checked that everything is correct and you're happy with it, you can fill in your email and mobile number to confirm your transaction. The final step is to fill in your payment details, and then your tax application will be complete. If you don't have your V5C logbook and your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11), you can tax your car using www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book (external link). This service allows you to apply for replacement V5C certificate and tax your car at the same time.
Once you’re on Gov.uk, you’ll have to use one of three documents mentioned above – your logbook, V11 reminder or your new keeper slip - to get your 16-digit reference number. Once you’ve got that and filled it in, you’ll be able to see when your car’s tax status. Then, you can choose how you want to pay. You can either pay by direct debit or card, and you can choose to pay for six months or 12 months at once. You’ll then be given a summary of your car and its tax details. Once you’ve checked that everything is correct and you're happy with it, you can fill in your email and mobile number to confirm your transaction. The final step is to fill in your payment details, and then your tax application will be complete. If you don't have your V5C logbook and your vehicle tax reminder letter (V11), you can tax your car using www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book (external link). This service allows you to apply for replacement V5C certificate and tax your car at the same time.
How to tax your car at the Post Office
If you’re unable to tax your car online, you can do it in person at a Post Office. Remember, some Post Offices don’t deal with vehicle tax, so you should look for a Post Office near you that’s able to tax your car.
Again, you’ll need your 16-digit reference number present on your V5C, V11 reminder letter or your new keeper slip. You’ll also need your MOT certificate valid from the date your car tax starts. If you claim vehicle tax exemption-based disability, you’ll also need your exception certificate. For people living in Northern Ireland, you also need to carry a valid paper copy of your current insurance or cover note. Once you’ve shown all your relevant documents, you’ll be asked to pay via direct debit, cheque, card, cash or postal order and then your application will be complete.
Again, you’ll need your 16-digit reference number present on your V5C, V11 reminder letter or your new keeper slip. You’ll also need your MOT certificate valid from the date your car tax starts. If you claim vehicle tax exemption-based disability, you’ll also need your exception certificate. For people living in Northern Ireland, you also need to carry a valid paper copy of your current insurance or cover note. Once you’ve shown all your relevant documents, you’ll be asked to pay via direct debit, cheque, card, cash or postal order and then your application will be complete.
Do I need to pay tax for an electric car?
You'll have to pay £10 tax this financial year if you own a fully electric car that was registered on or after 1 April 2017.
All registered keepers must pay tax to the DVLA regardless of the type of car you own, but the amount of tax you pay will depend upon the level of CO2 your car produces. So, if you own a fully electric car, it’ll produce 0g/km of CO2 which means your car will fall in Band A of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). All cars in Band A pay £10 tax in 2026/27. Find out the new tax bands for 2026-27 and how much tax you owe for your car.
All registered keepers must pay tax to the DVLA regardless of the type of car you own, but the amount of tax you pay will depend upon the level of CO2 your car produces. So, if you own a fully electric car, it’ll produce 0g/km of CO2 which means your car will fall in Band A of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). All cars in Band A pay £10 tax in 2026/27. Find out the new tax bands for 2026-27 and how much tax you owe for your car.
How to claim car tax back if I have a disability?
If you have an illness or a disability, you can apply for a vehicle tax exemption for yourself or someone who uses your car to drive you around.
If this is your first time applying for the exemption, you can go to a Post Office branch that deals with vehicle tax and apply by showing your certificate of entitlement. If you’re applying in the middle of the tax year, you’ll be refunded the remaining months’ tax amount. If you want to renew your car tax exemption, you can do so online on Gov.uk. Now that you know how to pay tax, find out how much tax you'll have to pay this financial year. You can also benefit from low £10 tax rate if you drive electric! Find the perfect electric car for you on Autotrader today.
If this is your first time applying for the exemption, you can go to a Post Office branch that deals with vehicle tax and apply by showing your certificate of entitlement. If you’re applying in the middle of the tax year, you’ll be refunded the remaining months’ tax amount. If you want to renew your car tax exemption, you can do so online on Gov.uk. Now that you know how to pay tax, find out how much tax you'll have to pay this financial year. You can also benefit from low £10 tax rate if you drive electric! Find the perfect electric car for you on Autotrader today.