MotR
Used Car Tax · New Purchase

Taxing A Used Car

Tax does not transfer when a used car changes hands. Since 2014, every buyer must tax the vehicle before driving it on any public road — including the journey home from purchase.

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A UK car being handed over at a private sale in a residential driveway at dusk under electric-blue light
The short answer

Taxing A Used Car

Tax does not transfer when a car is sold. Tax the vehicle before driving it on any public road using the V5C/2 new keeper supplement reference at gov.uk/vehicle-tax. Takes 5 minutes, active immediately. No valid V5C/2? Try a Post Office with the full V5C. No valid MOT? You may not be able to tax online — check MOT status before purchase.

Buyer checklist

Before You Drive Away: The Buyer's Tax Checklist

Confirm the car has a valid MOT — check MotR's free history checker before handing over money
Get the V5C/2 (new keeper supplement) from the seller — yellow tear-off section of the V5C
Tax the vehicle online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax using the V5C/2 reference before driving
Ensure you have valid insurance in place for the vehicle before driving
Check the tax confirmation is active — you should receive an immediate confirmation online

Tax does not transfer

Since October 2014 the previous owner's tax is cancelled automatically when the sale is registered. You have zero cover from it the moment you take ownership — tax before driving away, even for the journey home.
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Check MOT History Before Buying

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Check Tax & MOT Before Buying

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Questions & answers

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to tax a car before I drive it home after buying it?
Yes. If you are driving the car on any public road — including from the seller's address to your home — the vehicle must be taxed. Since October 2014, road tax no longer transfers between owners. You must tax the vehicle before driving it on a public road. You can do this online in minutes using the V5C/2 new keeper supplement reference number.
How do I tax a used car I've just bought?
Use the 11-digit reference number on the V5C/2 (new keeper supplement) given to you by the seller. Go to gov.uk/vehicle-tax, enter the registration and V5C/2 reference, and complete payment. Tax is active immediately. Do not drive the vehicle before this is done if the route home uses public roads.
What if the seller doesn't give me the V5C/2?
The V5C/2 (new keeper supplement) is the yellow section that the seller tears off and gives to the buyer. If the seller does not have it or refuses to provide it, you can still tax the car using the full V5C reference — but you need a reference number to proceed online. Without any reference, you would need to visit a Post Office with the V5C.
Can I tax a used car if it has no MOT?
For vehicles that require an MOT, the DVLA system checks whether a current MOT is registered. If no valid MOT exists in the DVSA database, the online taxing system may refuse. In practice, if the seller has a paper MOT certificate, you may be able to tax via Post Office in some cases. The best approach is to confirm the vehicle has a valid MOT before purchase.
Does the previous owner's tax give me any cover?
No. Since October 2014, tax is non-transferable. The previous owner's tax is cancelled automatically when the sale is registered with DVLA. You have zero cover from the previous owner's tax the moment you take ownership. Tax the vehicle before driving it away.
What happens if I drive an untaxed car I've just bought?
Driving an untaxed vehicle — regardless of how recently you bought it — is a criminal offence. ANPR cameras automatically detect untaxed vehicles. You risk a fixed penalty notice, potential clamping, and enforcement action. The purchase being recent is not a defence.
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Since 1 October 2014, vehicle tax no longer transfers between owners on sale. MotR is not affiliated with DVLA, DVSA or GOV.UK. Verify through official GOV.UK sources. Last reviewed 13 June 2026.

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