Taxing an untaxed vehicle

[Cider Andy]

I recently bought a vehicle that's been off the road nearly eighteen months. It's now in for MoT test and should be ready to go back on the road by the end of this week. SORN has been declared since I bought it.

I'd prefer not to lose a month's tax and need to know the earliest date I can apply for tax for it to start in May. It used to be three days before the start of the month (for an untaxed vehicle) but I can't find any info on this on the gov.uk website.

Is this still the case? If so, I'll wait until 27 April before I tax it.

[Cider Andy]

More digging would suggest I can only apply within two days of the end of the month, although I still cannot find an official source of this information.

[Cider Andy]

Although I still haven't found the answer on gov.uk I do now have written confirmation from the DVLA that if an online application is made within THE LAST TWO CALENDAR DAYS of the month there is an option to start the VED from the first of the following month.

[Cider Andy]

brrapp said:

Gavia said:

Cider Andy said:

Although I still haven't found the answer on gov.uk I do now have written confirmation from the DVLA that if an online application is made within THE LAST TWO CALENDAR DAYS of the month there is an option to start the VED from the first of the following month.

Why does it matter? If you tax online it's instantly live. There is no paper tax disc so you're not pulling off some masterstroke that'll allow you to drive during April whilst untaxed.

Exactly, even if you apply for the tax two days before the new month starts, it's still not legal to use it for these two days and you'd be risking a large fine if you did. Why not just tax it online when you are going to use it?

Whilst assuming you'd thwarted commission of the crime of the century did you also consider that it can take a few days to filter through to ANPR-equipped vehicles and that I might be making a long journey on 1st May and would rather not appear to have no road tax?

[Cider Andy]

TooMany2cvs said:

Keep your phone on you with the confirmation email on it? Or print the confirmation email out?

I don't want the inconvenience of being stopped.