Car Tax Issuing Post Offices: The Complete Guide to Taxing Your Vehicle in Person

Not every Post Office branch can tax your vehicle. Car tax issuing post offices are specific branches that offer vehicle licensing services on behalf of the DVLA. If you visit one of these branches, you can tax your car in person using your V5C logbook or V11 reminder letter. The Post Office branch finder tool helps you locate a participating branch near you.

Taxing a vehicle at the Post Office is straightforward when you have the right documents. You need your V5C registration certificate, V11 reminder letter, or the green new keeper slip if you have just bought the car. You also need valid insurance and an MOT certificate if the vehicle requires one. The DVLA checks insurance automatically through the Motor Insurance Database when you tax your vehicle.

According to Post Office guidance, car tax (officially known as Vehicle Excise Duty) is a legal requirement for most vehicles on UK roads. It is a tax paid to the government for owning or driving a vehicle. If you forget to pay your car tax, you could face fines, penalties or even have your car clamped.

What Are Car Tax Issuing Post Offices

Car tax issuing post offices are Post Office branches that have been authorised by the DVLA to handle vehicle tax applications in person. These branches offer a counter service where you can tax your vehicle, renew your road tax, or make a SORN declaration. The DVLA has awarded Post Office Ltd a contract to provide certain DVLA services at participating branches.

Not every Post Office branch offers this service. According to the Post Office, you should use their Branch Finder tool to find the nearest branch that offers a vehicle tax service.

At a car tax issuing Post Office, you can pay by debit or credit card, or set up a Direct Debit for automatic renewal. The service is part of the DVLA vehicle licensing network, which also includes online services and telephone renewals. Post Office branches that offer the service are typically larger branches with more counter space and staff trained in vehicle licensing procedures.

You can also tax your vehicle over the phone by calling 0300 123 4321, which is the DVLA's 24-hour vehicle tax service.

Quick Answer: What You Need to Tax a Car

According to Post Office guidance, if you are missing your DVLA reminder (V11) or your Registration Certificate (V5C), you can still renew your vehicle tax at the Post Office. At the same time, you can apply for a new Registration Certificate using a V62 application form, which is available at any Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. The fee is £25.

Quick Summary Chart: Car Tax Methods Compared

The Post Office offers a good option if you prefer handling things face-to-face. You can pay your car tax in one go for the full year, every six months or monthly via Direct Debit. Paying monthly or every six months usually costs a little more.

V11 Tax Reminder Letter Explained

A V11 form is a document sent by the DVLA to notify you that your vehicle tax is due for renewal. You can use the reference number on your V11 to renew your car tax, or make a SORN (Statutory Off-road Notification).

The DVLA issues a V11 reminder to the registered keeper recorded on the DVLA vehicle register about three weeks before the renewal date. This reminds keepers that the vehicle tax is due to expire and provides advice on how to tax or make a SORN. Non-receipt of the reminder is not considered a justifiable reason for failing to tax the vehicle.

The V11 form has three sections. The top section is pre-filled with the car owner name and address, vehicle registration number, and road tax expiry date. The middle section asks you to specify why you are using the form. The final section explains how you can tax your car by phone, online, or in person at a Post Office.

If you have lost your V11 reminder letter, you can still tax your vehicle. According to a DVLA digital service update, motorists can now tax their vehicle even if they have lost their V5C (log book) and their vehicle tax reminder letter (V11).

How to Get a V11 Number or Reference

Your V11 reference number is printed on the reminder letter sent by the DVLA. If you have received your V11, the 16-digit reference number is clearly shown on the letter. You can use this number to tax your vehicle online, by phone, or at a Post Office.

If you do not have your V11 reminder letter, you can still tax your vehicle using the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook. According to Post Office guidance, you can use either your V5C or your V11 to tax your vehicle at a participating branch.

If you have just bought a car, you can use the green new keeper slip from the V5C. This contains a 12-digit reference number that you can use to tax the vehicle in your name.

For those who have lost both their V5C and V11, the DVLA launched a digital service update in September 2024. This allows motorists to apply online for a new V5C and tax their vehicle at the same time, without needing to wait for the log book to arrive. The updated online service is available at www.gov.uk/vehicle-log-book.

Taxing a Vehicle Without a Logbook (V5C)

Taxing a car without a logbook is possible, but the process depends on your situation. If you have lost your V5C, you have several options.

According to Post Office guidance, if you are missing your V5C, you can still renew your vehicle tax at the Post Office. At the same time, you can apply for a new Registration Certificate using a V62 application form, which is available at any Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. The fee is £25.

If you have just bought a car and the previous keeper has not provided the V5C, you will need to apply for a replacement logbook. According to Auto Trader, if the replacement has not arrived after four weeks, it is a good idea to contact the DVLA.

The DVLA now offers a digital service that allows motorists to tax their vehicle even if they have lost their V5C and their V11 reminder letter. Previously, customers who had lost these documents would have had to wait up to five days for a replacement V5C to arrive, or phone DVLA's Contact Centre to tax their vehicle. The new update allows customers to apply online for a new V5C and tax their vehicle at the same time.

According to This is Money, motorists who have lost both their V5C and V11 documents can tax their vehicle using the enhanced online service, provided they are the registered keeper and there are no changes to the keeper details. Once they have applied, they will be able to tax immediately and will not have to wait for the V5C to arrive in the post.

V62 Form Guide for Replacement Logbook

A V62 form is the official application for a replacement registration certificate (V5C). You can obtain this form at any Post Office that deals with vehicle tax.

You will need a V62 if you have lost your V5C logbook. According to MyLawyer, you can complete the vehicle registration certificate application form V62 and send it with the fee to the DVLA. If your personal details have changed, you can state this on the application form. You should receive the registration certificate within six weeks.

The V62 application costs £25 if you are replacing a lost or stolen logbook. There is no fee if you are applying because you are the new keeper and the previous keeper has not told the DVLA of the change, or if the logbook was destroyed following insurance categorisation.

According to Post Office guidance, the V62 is available at any Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. You can use it at the same time as taxing your vehicle if you are missing your V5C.

For online replacement of a lost V5C, you can use the GOV.UK website. According to MyLawyer, you will need the registration number, the VIN/chassis number, and the name and postcode registered on your log book. You can pay the fee by credit or debit card. You should receive the log book within five working days.

Taxing a Vehicle Online or by Phone

You can tax your vehicle online using the official GOV.UK website. The easiest way to tax your vehicle is using the government's online portal.

You will need either the 16-digit reference number from your V11 reminder letter or the 11-digit reference number from your V5C logbook. If you are using the green new keeper slip, you will need the 12-digit reference number from that document.

By phone, you can call the DVLA's 24-hour vehicle tax service on 0300 123 4321. This is available for both taxing a vehicle and making a SORN declaration.

The online service has been enhanced to allow motorists to tax their vehicle even if they have lost their V5C and V11. According to the DVLA, this is the first time that DVLA has linked their online registration service with their online licensing service, allowing the customer to self-serve through the two digital channels in one seamless customer journey.

Once you have completed an online or phone payment, you will receive confirmation immediately. If you pay online or by phone, the tax is valid immediately.

Common Problems When Taxing a Vehicle

Several common issues can arise when taxing your vehicle. Understanding these problems and their solutions helps you avoid delays and penalties.

Missing V11 reminder letter is a common problem. As noted above, the DVLA now offers a service to tax without the V11. You can use your V5C logbook reference number instead, or use the new online service if you have lost both documents.

Lost logbook is another frequent issue. You can apply for a replacement using a V62 form at any Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. The fee is £25. Alternatively, you can apply online for a replacement V5C and tax your vehicle at the same time.

Vehicle tax rejection can happen if your insurance or MOT is not valid. According to Post Office guidance, you need a valid MOT to tax your vehicle. The DVLA checks insurance automatically through the Motor Insurance Database. If either is not valid, your tax application will be rejected.

SORN complications can arise if you are taxing a vehicle that is currently declared SORN. You can tax a SORN vehicle online, by phone, or at a Post Office. When you tax a SORN vehicle, the SORN status is automatically removed.

Ownership transfer issues can occur if you have bought a car without the V5C. You will need to apply for a replacement logbook using the green new keeper slip or a V62 form. The buyer will need to fill in a V62 form to apply for a new V5C.