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Taxing Vehicles
Document checklist
How to obtain your free
disabled tax disc		How to apply for a duplicate
tax disc
The cost of vehicle tax



When and where you can apply for vehicle tax

When you can apply to tax your vehicle will depend on when the vehicle tax expires or has expired. The documentation you have for the vehicle will determine whether you can make your application at a Post OfficeŽ branch or a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) local office.

When to apply for vehicle tax

You can apply to tax your vehicle from the fifteenth day of the month in which the existing vehicle tax is due to expire. The tax disc will come into force on the first day of the following month and should not be displayed on your vehicle until then.

You cannot apply to tax your vehicle more than two days before the start of the new tax disc if:

  • if there has been a gap in the dates in which your vehicle has been taxed ie the tax disc has been expired for a month or more
  • if you have bought a vehicle without a tax disc

Backdated vehicle tax

Vehicle tax cannot be backdated beyond the first day of the month in which you apply. Any arrears of tax must be paid direct to a DVLA local office.

Earliest dates you can tax a vehicle at a Post OfficeŽ branch

The following table shows the date the tax disc is taken out and it's expiry date after six or 12 months. It also shows the earliest date you can tax the vehicle if there has been a gap in the time the vehicle has been taxed.

Tax starts

 Tax expires

Earliest date of issue

 

6 Month

12 Month    

No gap

Gap

01/01/05

30/06/05

31/12/05

15/12/04

30/12/04

01/02/05

31/07/05

31/01/06

15/01/05

29/01/05

01/03/05

31/08/05

28/02/06

15/02/05

26/02/05

01/04/05

30/09/05

31/03/06

15/03/05

30/03/05

01/05/05

31/10/05

30/04/06

15/04/05

29/04/05

01/06/05

30/11/05

31/05/06

15/05/05

28/05/05

01/07/05

31/12/05

30/06/06

15/06/05

29/06/05

01/08/05

31/01/06

31/07/06

15/07/05

29/07/05

01/09/05

28/02/06

31/08/06

15/08/05

30/08/05

01/10/05

31/03/06

30/09/06

15/09/05

29/09/05

01/11/05

30/04/06

31/10/06

15/10/05

29/10/05

01/12/05

31/05/06

30/11/06

15/11/05

29/11/05

01/01/06

 30/06/06

31/12/06

15/12/05

30/12/05

* Please note if any date falls on a Sunday, the earliest issue date will be the Monday

Applying for vehicle tax at a Post Office branch

Usually, you can apply for vehicle tax in person or by post to a licence issuing Post OfficeŽ branch. Make sure you read the notes on the vehicle tax application form first. If you are applying by post, address your envelope to 'Post Office (MVL Duty)'.

Do not post applications to the DVLA, Swansea.

Applying for vehicle tax at a DVLA local office

Some heavy goods vehicles will need to be taxed in person or by post at a DVLA local office. Make sure you read the notes on the appropriate application form carefully.

If there are changes to the vehicle details that will affect the rate of duty that is due on the vehicle, or there are changes to the tax class, you must make your application to a DVLA local office. If your vehicle is registered as 'Not