What Do I Need To Tax My Car At The Post Office?

While you can pay your car tax on a monthly, semi-annually or yearly basis, you will be able to get a discount on your payment if you pay the full amount of tax at the beginning of the tax year. Through this article, we aim to explain the necessary information and documents required to tax your car at the post office as well as discuss the process, car tax rates and consequences of not paying car tax on time.

What Do I Need To Tax My Car At The Post Office?

In order to tax your car at the post office you will need to carry any of the following documents to serve as proof of vehicle ownership:

  • Your vehicle registration certificate; V5
  • Your V11 reminder from the DVLA
  • A valid Ministry Of Transport (MOT) certificate 

If you have misplaced your V11 letter or your V5C, your car tax can still be renewed through the local post office. 

At this time, you should also apply for a new Registration Certificate using a V62 application form A for £25

Car owners in the UK require a V62 form to make an application for their duplicate vehicle logbook; also termed V5C. It may also be required when the vehicle logbook does not arrive within six weeks of registering the vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

However, if you have purchased a new vehicle and have not received your V5, after a lapse of four weeks you can apply with a V62 without having to pay a fee.

It is important to note that you may only be able to pay your car tax only if the vehicle is registered in your name and you can provide any of the following documents to prove your ownership of the car:

  • incase your V11 reminder notice which states the vehicle owner’s name and the amount of car tax due for the next tax term
  • a V62 logbook application form which shows that you have applied for a V5 while the previous one has gone missing
  • a V5C/2 Green slip that is issued to new car owners while the ownership of their vehicle is transferred from the previous owner

In case you are applying for a V62 form due to your V5 being damaged or lost, you will also be required to make a payment of £25 along with the submission of your V62 form. These payments can be made in any of the following ways:

  • Debit/credit card
  • Direct Debit
  • Cash
  • Cheque
  • Postal Order

The easiest and quickest modes of payment are using your credit or debit card or online transfer of funds through your bank account.

If a vehicle owner fails to pay their car tax, they may face an initial fine of up to £80 reminding you to clear your tax dues within 28 days. If you fail to pay the fine within the given time, this fine can increase to up to £1000 and the defaulting party be taken to court.

How Soon Can I Tax My Car Before The End Of The Month?

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.

If you are making an advance payment, you will need the following documents:

  • Your vehicle registration certificate or logbook
  • An application for advance payment along with reasons 
  • Complete V10 form for vehicle tax and V85 form in case of a heavy good vehicle
  • An MOT or goods vehicle testing (GVT) certificate (in case you need one) 
  • A cheque, postal order or banker’s draft with the full amount payable to DVLA Swansea

If I Tax My Car On The Last Day Of The Month Will I Lose A Month?

Yes, if you tax your car on the last day of the month, you will lose an entire month’s payment. The reason for this is that car tax runs on a month to month basis. If you pay your car tax on a monthly basis and make a payment at the end of the month, it will be counted as the payment for the running month that is about to end. If you pay your car tax on a six-monthly basis, making a payment at the end of a month reduces your payment to five months in the future. Similarly, in the case of an annual payment, it will be taken as an 11-month payment for the next car tax term.

If you have purchased or registered a car to your name, you will be required to apply for a Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Otherwise, the DVLA will send you a V11 reminder to do so. The purpose of this reminder is to set up your vehicle tax. You will receive an annual reminder to renew your car tax.

How Long Does It Take For Car Tax To Show Online?

According to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), it can take up to 5 working days for renewed car tax to show online. 

You can check the status of your car tax payment via the DVLA’s Vehicle Enquiry System. At the same time, you will get an update regarding the insurance payments of your vehicle as well.

If you have purchased a brand new car and you are the first owner, you may want to check if the car tax has already been paid as dealers usually arrange for its payment while making a sale. Most of the time your car tax is included along with the price of your car and any registration fee that is to be levied. 

Can I Tax My Car While Waiting For Log Book?

Yes, you can pay your car tax while waiting for your logbook. If you have purchased a brand new car and you are the first owner, dealers usually arrange for payment for your car tax. Most of the time your car tax is included along with the price of your car and any registration fee that is to be levied. 

In the case of a second-hand car, if the dealer does not arrange a logbook transfer to your name, you can do the same by contacting the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) on their website. However, it is advisable to purchase a vehicle with an updated logbook to avoid fraud or the purchase of a stolen car.

However, in the absence of a logbook or V5, your car will be declared as SORN; Statutory Off-Road Notification until the new logbook arrives which can take up to a few weeks. Your initial fine will be £80 which is due to be paid in the next 28 days. If you are unable to do so within the given time, this fine may be increased to £1,000.

How Can I Apply For A Log Book?

You can apply for your car’s logbook or V5 online through the DVLA website or through the post. It usually takes 6 weeks for your new logbook to be delivered. 

Payments can be made through local post offices registered for car tax. You may use a debit card, credit card or direct debit facility to make your car tax payment(s).

You must apply for a V5 immediately for a fee of £25, in case you have not done so. Not carrying your logbook can lead to a penalty being charged by the DVLA.

Informing the DVLA of the need for a new logbook is essential for all new car owners or those who have been transferred ownership of the car.

How Much Car Tax Do I Have To Pay?

Car tax or Vehicle Excise Duty in the UK is calculated on the basis of a few factors including the engine size and CO2 emissions of the car.

However, the UK road tax system is divided into two separate rates. The first-rate applies during the first year of a car on the road when its CO2 emissions are also accounted for while calculating the tax rate. It may range from £0 for zero-emission cars to £2,245 for cars that emit 255g/km or more.

From the second year onwards, the CO2 emissions will not account for road tax, rather the original cost of the car will be considered for calculations.

Cars that are valued at or above £40,000 will be taxed a further £335 annual supplement that runs for five years. After this time-lapse, they will be taxed at the current tax rate applicable during the tax term.

The current (2021-22) road tax is set at a flat rate of £155. This is an increase from £150 in the 2020/2021 financial year) to adjust for inflation. There’s a £10 annual discount for alternatively fuelled vehicles such as hybrids, mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids. Therefore, their owners pay £145 annually.

Conclusion:

While you need documents such as your vehicle registration certificate, car tax reminder from the DVLA and a valid Ministry Of Transport certificate to tax your car at the post office, in the absence of your logbook, you can still pay car tax and also apply for a new logbook from the post office by paying the required fee. You will not have a car tax reminder issued to your name if you have recently purchased a car. Brand new cars are usually taxed through the dealer at the time of purchase (though it is not mandatory for them to do so) while used cars would need to be taxed by the new owner as previously paid taxes will no longer be applicable once a logbook to their name is issued.

FAQs: What Do I Need To Tax My Car At The Post Office?

Can I tax my car at the post office without a V5C?

Yes, you can tax your call without a V5C if you can provide your V11 reminder for car tax payment or the new keeper green slip in case you have recently purchased your car. You can only tax a vehicle that is registered in your name.

Can I tax a car without a logbook?

You can only tax a car without a logbook if you can prove ownership of the vehicle with a V11 reminder from the DVLA or a new keepers’ green slip.

Can you temporarily tax a car?

No, the DVLA does not permit temporary tax for a car. You have to pay a minimum of six months’ tax before driving a car on public roads.

Can Post Office set up a Direct Debit for car tax?

Yes, you can visit the post office to set up a Direct Debit facility for tax payments. Alternatively, you can also do it yourself online.

Can you drive a car without a V5?

According to the DVLA, car owners should not drive a car without a V5. If you are waiting for your car logbook to be renewed, you should carry your form V62 (an application for V5) as proof of ownership of the vehicle.

References:

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

How to Get a Vehicle Log Book

Apply for vehicle tax in advance – GOV.UK

If I Tax My Car On The Last Day Of The Month Will I Lose A Month?

Vehicle tax

Tax your car

DVLA-car tax

How to tax a car without V5 | Express.co.uk