How long for DVLA refund?

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Simple Q: how long after cancelling your road tax do you get the refund cheque from the DVLA?

I cancelled the road tax on one car just before the end of August and I've heard nothing from the DVLA since then. I'm proposing to re-tax it next month and am wondering whether I'll see the money from the last tax refund before paying this one.

And, as an aside, do other PH-ers have several cars but only keep a few of them taxed at any one time? I have two which will effectively be 'Summer Car' (an everyday classic) and 'Winter Car' (something I am less bothered about.) What is the shortest period for which a car will be off the road for which makes applying for a tax refund worthwhile? They will only do one month blocks and a month is about £30, but does the hassle mean it's not worth it for less than two months? Four months? Any other period?

Thanks.

[Slow]

Tax the car monthly if your going to be taxing and untaxing frequently.

[sixor8]

You pay a premium for monthly payments (5% I think). I always buy it all and I juggle cars VED a fair bit. You should have had the cheque within 2 weeks if you were owed anything. I often get a refund within 7 days.

Bizarrely, they have admin costs in sending you a cheque but they charge a premium for paying by d/d where just a button press is required.

Have you checked if the car is now SORN?

https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/?_ga=2.10466...

[xiodene]

I sorned my VX last month. The cheque arrived around a week later

[Nickp82]

Thanks OP, you’ve reminded me I need to pay in the £2.50 cheque from DVLA as a result of selling a car. The cheque took around a week or so to arrive

[Gad-Westy]

Took 8 weeks for me when I sold a car earlier this year.

[2 GKC]

2 weeks

[CanAm]

Cheque arrived yesterday, about a week after online SORN.

[littleredrooster]

2Btoo said:

I cancelled the road tax on one car just before the end of August...

Just to double check - you mean that you declared it SORN, not that you cancelled any payments?

The only time I have SORNed a vehicle, the refund arrived in about 7 days.

[Philplop]

I sold a car recently and it said to wait up to 8 weeks for the refund. I did that and then emailed them. It took another couple of weeks after that for them to send the cheque.

[Alickadoo]

2Btoo said:

Guys,

Simple Q: how long after cancelling your road tax do you get the refund cheque from the DVLA?

I cancelled the road tax on one car just before the end of August and I've heard nothing from the DVLA since then. I'm proposing to re-tax it next month and am wondering whether I'll see the money from the last tax refund before paying this one.

And, as an aside, do other PH-ers have several cars but only keep a few of them taxed at any one time? I have two which will effectively be 'Summer Car' (an everyday classic) and 'Winter Car' (something I am less bothered about.) What is the shortest period for which a car will be off the road for which makes applying for a tax refund worthwhile? They will only do one month blocks and a month is about £30, but does the hassle mean it's not worth it for less than two months? Four months? Any other period?

Thanks.

Did it this week.

Three days.

[loskie]

normally within days especially if done online

[LuS1fer]

Remember that if you tax for 6 months, you don't get what you paid for 6 months, pro-rata, you get the 12 month rate pro-rata

[Jamescrs]

Traded my old car in recently and the Tax refund came as a cheque within a week, I was surprised at how fast it was.

[2Btoo]

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a right mixed bag of refund times. DVLA website says not to hassle them until 6 weeks is up so I'll have to give it a while yet.

FWIW, the car was taxed for 12 months with a single payment up-front. I understand that I would therefore get the pro-rate amount per month refunded.

[Gad-Westy]

2Btoo said:

Guys,

Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a right mixed bag of refund times. DVLA website says not to hassle them until 6 weeks is up so I'll have to give it a while yet.

FWIW, the car was taxed for 12 months with a single payment up-front. I understand that I would therefore get the pro-rate amount per month refunded.

I called after about 7 weeks. They looked into and saw that the payment was due but for some reason wasn't authorised. They fixed it but I was warned that it could take another 6 weeks from then. In the event, a cheque arrived in the post within a week of the call.

I'd love to know why we have to put up with this archaic crap though. 6 weeks to issue money owed. Then when you do receive it, it's a bloody cheque. In 2023! I have no idea why it cannot simply be paid back to the bank account that you paid from and authorised that day like almost any other online refund service that I can think of.

[2Btoo]

Gad-Westy said:

I'd love to know why we have to put up with this archaic crap though. 6 weeks to issue money owed. Then when you do receive it, it's a bloody cheque. In 2023! I have no idea why it cannot simply be paid back to the bank account that you paid from and authorised that day like almost any other online refund service that I can think of.

Abso-bloody-lutely. And this archaic crap will come at a cost. But that's gubbmint through and through, eh?

[Countdown]

Sold a shed last Sunday, got the refund cheque yesterday.

[Mr-B]

Sorn'd car on Saturday, cheque arrived today Friday so 6 days.

[FunkyGibbon]

for me 3 working days