Can I Tax My Car On A Sunday?

Car tax payments are mandatory if you intend to drive your car on a public road. The aim of the following article is to learn whether or not you can tax your car on a Sunday. We will also explore the different modes of payments for a car tax, how to keep your car tax updated and the consequences of not paying car tax on time.

Can I Tax My Car On A Sunday?

Yes, you can tax your car on a Sunday especially if you are using the following methods to pay your car tax:

  • online payment through direct debit
  • online payment through debit or credit card
  • online payment from a post office that operates on a Sunday

If you are used to paying your car tax via a cheque, cash or postal order, your payment will not get through on a Sunday due to bank holiday or post office closure.

When you make your car tax payment, you will need your reference number from the following documents:

  • a recent car tax reminder also called a V11 reminder 
  • a ‘last chance’ warning letter for car tax payment from the DVLA
  • your vehicle log book or V5C registered in your name
  • your green ‘new keeper’ slip from a vehicle log book registered in your name if you’ve recently bought a car

In the absence of these documents, you will have to apply for a vehicle logbook by filling out a V62 form and paying the fee of £25. Once you have a vehicle logbook registered in your name, you can then pay your car tax; online, or otherwise. 

In the case of debit or credit payments, you will be charged an additional surcharge of 5%; unless you pay the full amount of car tax on an annual basis in advance. The DVLA takes monthly payments for car tax on the first day of each month. However, car owners can choose to make car tax payments on a monthly or six-monthly basis.

You must keep in mind that even if you pay your car tax on a Sunday, it will not be updated at the same time. According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), it can take up to 5 working days for renewed car tax to show online.

How Can I Tax My Car At The Post Office On A Sunday?

You can tax your car at the post office if (a) the post office deals with car tax and is open on a Sunday (b) you have the following documents with you:

  • a V5C vehicle certificate/logbook registered in your name, or
  • a V62 application for a registration certificate 
  • a new keeper slip if you’ve just bought the car 
  • an MOT test certificate

If it is the first time that you are making a Direct Debit payment, you will need the following:

  • your address 
  • your date of birth
  • your bank or building society account details

How Can I Tax My Car Online On A Sunday?

You can tax your car online if you have your vehicle registration certificate, V11 reminder from the DVLA and a valid Ministry Of Transport (MOT) certificate. If you need to tax a newly bought car on your own, you will first need to fill out a V55/4 form. Once you’ve made the payment, you can check the status of your car tax payment via the DVLA’s Vehicle Enquiry System

However, you will not be able to tax your car online if any of the following situations apply to you:

  • Your car’s MOT is due for renewal within a month’s time 
  • Your car was previously in the disabled car tax class and you need to change the tax class before paying the car tax
  • You are trying to make an advance payment of more than 2 months for your car tax
  • Your car has not been registered with the DVLA either due to being a brand new vehicle or the registration has not been transferred from the previous owner 
  • You don’t have car insurance for your vehicle or your current car insurance has expired and is due for a renewal
  • You don’t have a vehicle logbook or V5C for your car; either because you have just purchased it from the dealer or the ownership has not been transferred from the previous owner
  • You don’t have the 12-digit reference number from your vehicle logbook, a V11 reminder from the DVLA or the green slip to pay your car tax

Can I Get Grace Days To Pay Car Tax?

No you cannot get grace days to pay car tax due to the abolishment of the tax disc system. It is advisable to pay your car tax in advance to avoid having an untaxed vehicle which cannot be taken on the road.

You can tax your car 2 months in advance before your current car tax expires; however, if your car tax expires at the end of the month, you can pay the amount by the 5th day of the month. These payments can either be through cheque, postal order, online or through direct debit.

Will I Get Fined If I Don’t Tax My Car?

Yes, you will be fined by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you forgot to tax your car. 

If your car is not taxed and is found on the road by the authorities, you will be fined £80 for driving an untaxed vehicle. If you pay the fine within 28 days, the amount will be halved and you will only have to pay £40. However, if you do not pay the fine within the stipulated time, the amount can increase to £1,000 and you can be taken to court or your vehicle can be clamped so that it cannot be driven until the fine is paid.  

If you do not intend to run your car on public roads, you are not required to pay your car tax. Instead, you should apply for Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) through your local post office dealing with car tax.

Conclusion:

The discussion in this blog post explains in detail how you can tax your car online on a Sunday; however your payments options may be limited due to the weekend and bank holiday. Also, you would need your vehicle documents to be handy while you make the payment as well as a bank account or credit card. Since it takes 5 working days for car tax to be updated online, it is best to pay your car tax in advance to avoid being fined. 

FAQs: Can I Tax My Car On A Sunday?

Can you tax a vehicle anytime?

Yes, you can tax your car any time of the day especially if you are making an online payment. However, car tax is renewed every year and payments are made in advance. Car tax payments can be made on a monthly, semi annual or annual basis.

Can I tax my car on the same day as my MOT?

No, you cannot tax your car on the same day as MOT. To pay your car tax, you need a valid MOT that is not due for expiration on the day when your car tax starts. So, you need to pay your MOT first and use the updated details to pay car tax.

Can you tax a car for a day in the UK?

No, you cannot tax a car for a day in the UK as the DVLA does not permit temporary car tax payments. You will have to pay car tax for at least six months or a full year; these payments can be made on a monthly basis.

Can you drive your car straight away after taxing online?

Yes, you can drive your car straight away after taxing it online. However, you must carry proof of your tax payment with you to avoid facing a penalty for driving a car without paying car tax.

Can I drive my car without tax while waiting for the logbook?

No, you cannot drive your car without tax. If you are waiting for your logbook, you can still pay your car tax using the V11 reminder or new keeper green slip.

References:

How to Tax Your Car Online [2022 Guide]

Buy Or Renew Your Vehicle Tax | Identity | Post Office®

Tax your vehicle – GOV.UK

How to Tax Your Car | Motoring Guides

Car tax bands explained | MoneyHelper