How to request a car tax refund
You can get a refund on your car tax (Vehicle Tax) if you have paid for a full year or longer and no longer need the vehicle before that period ends. The refund covers the unused months only — you do not get money back for months you already used the car on the road.
The process depends on whether your vehicle is still registered and roadworthy. If the car is still registered to you and in working order, you can request a refund through DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) online, by post, or by phone. If the car is scrapped, sold, or no longer exists, the refund happens automatically when you notify DVLA of the change.
Most refunds arrive within four weeks of your request, though some take up to six weeks if DVLA needs to verify your details or investigate the claim. You will receive the money by bank transfer to the account you provide, or by cheque if you request it.
Key Takeaways
- You can only get a refund for unused months of car tax, not for time you already drove the vehicle.
- If you are keeping the car, request the refund through DVLA online, by phone, or by post with proof you no longer need it.
- If the car is scrapped or sold, DVLA refunds automatically when you report the change — you do not need to ask.
- Refunds take four to six weeks and arrive by bank transfer or cheque, depending on what you request.
- You need proof of the reason you are not using the car, such as a medical certificate, proof of sale, or a scrappage receipt.
When you can claim a refund on unused car tax
You are may have access to to a refund if you paid for a full 12 months of car tax and stopped using the vehicle before that year ended. The refund covers only the months from when you stopped using it until the end of your tax period. For example, if you paid for tax from January to December and stopped driving in July, you would get a refund for August through December.
You cannot get a refund if you paid for a six-month tax period, or if your tax is about to expire within the next month. You also cannot claim if you still use the car on the road, even if you use it only occasionally. The car must be off the road completely — parked at home, stored, or no longer in your possession.
If the car is scrapped, sold to someone else, or exported, DVLA will refund automatically once you tell them. You do not need to submit a separate request; the refund happens as part of the process of removing the vehicle from the register.
How to request a refund if you still own the car
If you own the car but are not using it on the road, you have three ways to request a refund: online through the DVLA website, by phone, or by post.
Online: Go to the DVLA refund page and enter your vehicle registration number and postcode. You will need to confirm that the car is off the road and provide a reason — options include medical reasons, the car is broken and not worth fixing, or you have no use for it. You will also need to provide your bank details for the refund. The online route is fastest and you get a confirmation number immediately.
By phone: Call DVLA on 0300 123 4321 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm; Saturday, 8am to 4pm). Have your vehicle registration document (V5C) ready. The adviser will ask the same questions as the online form and take your bank details over the phone. Calls cost the same as a local call.
By post: Send a letter to DVLA with your V5C, a covering letter explaining why you are not using the car, and a bank details form (available on the DVLA website). Post to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AR. This route takes longer — allow six to eight weeks for processing.
What proof you need to provide
DVLA will ask why you are not using the car. The reason you give affects how much proof you need to provide. Common reasons and their requirements are listed below.
| Reason for not using the car | Proof you may need |
|---|---|
| Medical reasons (illness, disability, injury) | Medical certificate from your doctor, or a letter from your GP confirming you cannot drive |
| Car is broken and not worth repairing | Mechanic's report or quote showing the cost of repair, or a letter from a garage |
| No longer need the car | Usually no proof needed, but DVLA may ask follow-up questions |
| Car is being repaired | Garage invoice or repair estimate with dates |
| Overseas (temporarily away from the UK) | Proof of travel dates, such as a flight booking or visa |
If you are claiming for medical reasons, the certificate must be dated within the last three months. If DVLA is unsure about your reason, they may contact you for more information before processing the refund.
Automatic refunds when you sell or scrap the car
If you sell the car to someone else, you do not need to request a refund — it happens automatically. When the new owner registers the car in their name, DVLA will refund you for the unused months. The refund is sent to the bank account on file for your vehicle registration.
The same applies if you scrap the car. When you notify DVLA that the vehicle has been scrapped (usually through the scrappage company), the refund is processed automatically. You will receive it within four weeks.
If you sell the car privately and the buyer does not register it immediately, the refund may be delayed. Contact DVLA to check the status if more than six weeks have passed since the sale.
How long refunds take and how you receive the money
Most refunds arrive within four weeks of your request. If DVLA needs to verify your details, check your proof, or investigate anything unusual about your claim, it can take up to six weeks. You will not receive a separate notification when the refund is processed — the money will simply appear in your bank account.
Refunds are sent by bank transfer to the account you provide. If you do not have a bank account or prefer not to use one, you can request a cheque instead when you make your claim. Cheques take an extra one to two weeks to arrive by post.
If you have not received your refund after six weeks, contact DVLA to check the status. Have your vehicle registration number and the date you made the request ready. DVLA can tell you whether the refund has been sent and, if it has, provide the payment reference number so you can trace it with your bank.
What to do if your refund does not arrive
If six weeks have passed and you have not received the money, first check with your bank to see if the payment is pending or if there is a problem with the account details you provided. Sometimes a refund is sent but takes longer to clear, especially if the account number was entered incorrectly.
Contact DVLA by phone on 0300 123 4321 with your vehicle registration number and the date you submitted your request. They can confirm whether the refund was sent and provide a payment reference. If the payment was sent but your bank has not received it, DVLA can investigate with their bank and may reissue the refund by cheque.
If DVLA rejected your claim, they will send you a letter explaining why. Common reasons include the car is still registered as being in use, the tax period is about to expire, or the proof you provided was not accepted. You can appeal by contacting DVLA and providing additional evidence, or by requesting a review of the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a refund if I have only paid for six months of tax?
No. DVLA only refunds unused months if you paid for a full 12-month period. If you paid for six months, you cannot get a refund for the unused time. You can only get a refund on the next 12-month tax period if you purchase one.
What if I sold the car but the new owner has not registered it yet?
The refund will not process until the new owner registers the vehicle in their name. If more than six weeks have passed since the sale and you have not received the refund, contact DVLA with the buyer's details or the sale receipt. DVLA can check whether the registration has been received and process the refund manually if needed.
Do I lose my refund if I claim it after the tax expires?
No, but you must claim within a certain time. You can request a refund for up to four years of unused tax, so even if your tax period has ended, you can still claim for the months you did not use the car. However, it is best to claim as soon as you stop using the vehicle.
Will I get a refund if the car is stolen?
Yes. Report the theft to the police and get a crime reference number, then contact DVLA with the reference. DVLA will refund the unused months once they have verified the theft report. This usually takes four to six weeks.
Can I claim a refund if I am abroad and cannot use the car?
Yes, if you are temporarily outside the UK. You will need to provide proof of your travel dates, such as a flight booking or visa. If you have permanently moved abroad, you should notify DVLA that you are no longer a UK resident, and the refund will be processed as part of that change.