Sold your car, declared it off the road or had it written off? You could be entitled to a road tax refund. The DVLA refunds any full months of unused vehicle tax once you notify it that your vehicle has been sold, transferred, declared SORN or otherwise qualifies for cancellation.
You do not normally need to submit a separate refund application. Once DVLA processes the relevant notification, it cancels your vehicle tax, stops any associated Direct Debit and sends a refund cheque to the registered keeper.
This guide explains how to cancel car tax, calculate your refund, check when your money should arrive and resolve common problems, including missing cheques and Direct Debit payments.
Car tax refunds: key facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can I get a road tax refund? | Yes, if your vehicle qualifies for tax cancellation and has full months of prepaid tax remaining |
| Do I need to apply separately? | Usually not; notifying DVLA triggers the refund |
| Are partial months refunded? | No |
| How is the refund paid? | By cheque |
| Who receives the refund? | The person named on the V5C logbook |
| What happens to Direct Debit? | DVLA cancels it automatically |
| When should I contact DVLA? | If the refund has not arrived after eight weeks |
Official DVLA service: Cancel your vehicle tax and get a refund.
When can you cancel road tax and claim a refund?
You can cancel vehicle tax only in circumstances recognised by DVLA. These include:
- Selling your car: You have sold or transferred the vehicle to someone else.
- Declaring SORN: You are taking the vehicle off the public road.
- Writing off your vehicle: Your insurer has written off the vehicle.
- Scrapping your car: The vehicle has been scrapped through the appropriate process.
- Vehicle theft: Your car has been stolen and the required notifications have been made.
- Permanent export: The vehicle is being permanently taken out of the UK.
- Tax exemption: The vehicle has been registered as exempt from vehicle tax.
Simply deciding not to use your car for a few weeks does not qualify you for a refund. If you intend to keep it off public roads without paying vehicle tax, you normally need to make a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
How to cancel road tax online
There is no single cancellation form for every situation. Instead, you notify DVLA of the change affecting your vehicle.
| Your situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sold or transferred your vehicle | Tell DVLA about the sale or transfer |
| Taking your vehicle off the road | Declare SORN |
| Vehicle written off | Notify DVLA about the write-off |
| Vehicle stolen | Follow the stolen vehicle process |
| Vehicle scrapped | Follow the vehicle scrapping guidance |
| Permanent export | Notify DVLA about taking the vehicle abroad |
Once DVLA receives the relevant notification, it will cancel the vehicle tax and arrange any refund due.
How to get a road tax refund after selling your car
If you sell your car, you must tell DVLA that you are no longer the registered keeper. The vehicle tax is then cancelled automatically.
- Find your V5C vehicle logbook.
- Visit GOV.UK: Tell DVLA you have sold or transferred a vehicle.
- Enter the requested vehicle and logbook details.
- Provide the new keeper’s details.
- Submit the notification and keep the confirmation.
- Wait for DVLA to send a cheque for any full months of unused tax.
Important: Vehicle tax does not transfer to the buyer. The new keeper must tax the vehicle before using it on the road, even if you paid for a full year’s tax shortly before selling it.
What if you sold your car without a V5C logbook?
If you have already sold the vehicle and do not have the V5C, you must notify DVLA in writing.
Include your name and address, the vehicle registration number, make and model, exact date of sale, and the new keeper’s name and address.
Send the letter to DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA. Check the official guidance before posting and retain a copy for your records.
How to claim a road tax refund after declaring SORN
If you are keeping your vehicle off public roads, you can declare it SORN and receive a refund for any full months of unused vehicle tax.
For example, you might declare SORN if your car is being stored in a garage, kept on a private driveway or taken off the road for repairs.
Visit GOV.UK: Register your vehicle as off the road and follow the instructions.
Once SORN takes effect, your vehicle must not be used or kept on a public road. There is a limited exception for driving to or from a pre-booked MOT or other qualifying test appointment.
You cannot backdate a SORN. If you intend to use the vehicle on the road again, you must tax it before doing so.
How much road tax refund will you receive?
DVLA refunds full remaining months of vehicle tax, not unused days. The refund is calculated from the date DVLA receives the information that qualifies your vehicle for cancellation.
For example, if your vehicle tax runs until 31 December and DVLA receives your cancellation notification on 15 September, you would normally receive a refund for October, November and December.
Example road tax refund calculation
| Example | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual vehicle tax | £240 |
| Monthly equivalent | £20 |
| Full unused months remaining | 4 |
| Illustrative refund | £80 |
This is a simplified example based on a standard annual payment. Actual refunds depend on the vehicle’s tax rate, payment arrangement and any applicable first-year vehicle tax rules.
If the refund relates to the first vehicle tax payment made when the car was registered, DVLA uses whichever is lower: that first payment or the rate applicable to subsequent payments.
Can you get a refund for part of a month?
No. DVLA does not refund part-months of vehicle tax.
If you sell your car on 2 November, for example, you will not normally receive a refund for the remaining days in November. Any refund starts with the next full unused month.
This is why it is important to notify DVLA promptly when you sell, transfer or take a vehicle off the road.
What happens to your car tax Direct Debit when you sell your car?
If you pay vehicle tax by Direct Debit, DVLA will automatically cancel the payments when you notify it that the vehicle has been sold, declared SORN or otherwise qualifies for cancellation.
You do not normally need to contact your bank to stop the Direct Debit separately.
However, if you cancel the Direct Debit with your bank for another reason while keeping the vehicle, you must arrange to tax it again using a valid payment method.
If DVLA collects a payment just before the cancellation takes effect, any qualifying overpayment will normally be refunded automatically within 10 working days.
See GOV.UK: Cancel a vehicle tax Direct Debit.
How long does a DVLA road tax refund take?
DVLA sends vehicle tax refunds by cheque. The cheque is posted to the name and address recorded on the vehicle’s V5C logbook.
Refunds commonly arrive within several weeks. GOV.UK advises contacting DVLA if your refund cheque has not arrived after eight weeks.
Make sure the registered keeper’s address is correct, particularly if you have recently moved house.
What if your DVLA tax refund cheque has not arrived?
If eight weeks have passed and you have not received your refund, contact DVLA.
Before contacting them, have the following information available:
- Your vehicle registration number.
- The registered keeper’s name and address.
- The date you notified DVLA.
- The reason for cancellation, such as sale or SORN.
- Any confirmation or reference number you received.
You can find the relevant contact details through GOV.UK: Contact DVLA.
What if your DVLA refund cheque has the wrong name?
If the refund cheque contains an incorrect name, return it to DVLA with an explanation of the error and the correct details.
Send it to:
Refund Section
DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1AL
If the replacement cheque has not arrived after four weeks, contact DVLA to follow up.
Can you claim road tax back if your car is stolen?
Yes. If your vehicle is stolen, you may qualify for a refund of unused vehicle tax.
Report the theft to the police and follow DVLA’s instructions for notifying it about the vehicle.
Special procedures can apply if the vehicle has a personalised registration number that you want to keep. In some circumstances, a separate refund application may be required.
Read GOV.UK: What to do if your vehicle has been stolen.
Can you claim a refund if your car is written off or scrapped?
Yes. You may receive a refund for full unused months of vehicle tax if your car has been written off or scrapped and you complete the appropriate DVLA notification.
If an insurance company takes ownership of a written-off vehicle, make sure you follow the correct transfer process. If your car is scrapped, use an authorised treatment facility and ensure the disposal is recorded properly.
Keep confirmation of the transaction and check that your vehicle tax has been cancelled.
Can you cancel road tax but keep your car?
Yes, but only if the vehicle is kept off public roads and you make a valid SORN, or another recognised exemption applies.
For example, if you have a second car that you intend to store in a private garage for several months, you can declare SORN and receive any qualifying refund.
You cannot simply stop paying tax while continuing to keep or use the vehicle on public roads.
How to check whether a car is taxed or declared SORN
You can check a vehicle’s current tax and SORN status using the free DVLA vehicle enquiry service.
- Visit GOV.UK: Get vehicle information from DVLA.
- Enter the vehicle registration number.
- Confirm the vehicle details.
- Review the tax status and other available vehicle information.
This is useful after buying a car, declaring SORN or checking whether a change has been recorded.
Frequently asked questions about car tax refunds
Do I automatically get a car tax refund when I sell my car?
Yes, once you notify DVLA that you have sold or transferred the vehicle, it will automatically refund any full months of unused vehicle tax.
Can I cancel my road tax online?
Yes. Use the relevant GOV.UK service to notify DVLA that your vehicle has been sold, declared SORN or otherwise qualifies for cancellation.
How do I claim road tax back after selling a car privately?
Tell DVLA about the sale using the V5C logbook details. Your vehicle tax will be cancelled and any qualifying refund will be issued automatically.
Does car tax transfer to the new owner?
No. Vehicle tax is cancelled when the registered keeper changes. The buyer must tax the vehicle before driving it.
Can I get a road tax refund if I pay monthly?
You can receive a refund for qualifying overpayments, but you will not usually have several months of prepaid tax to reclaim. DVLA automatically cancels the Direct Debit after the relevant notification.
Can I get a refund for unused days of road tax?
No. DVLA only refunds full remaining months, not individual days or partial months.
Can I get a road tax refund if I move abroad?
If you permanently export your vehicle and notify DVLA correctly, you may qualify for a refund of full unused months. Temporarily travelling abroad does not automatically qualify you for cancellation.
Can I get a refund if I paid no vehicle tax?
If your vehicle’s tax rate was £0 and you did not pay any vehicle tax, there is no monetary refund to receive. You may still need to complete the relevant DVLA notification.
Can DVLA send my road tax refund by bank transfer?
The standard DVLA vehicle tax refund process uses cheques sent to the registered keeper’s name and address on the V5C logbook.
How do I contact DVLA about a missing road tax refund?
Contact DVLA if eight weeks have passed since your qualifying notification and the refund has not arrived. Use the official contact details at GOV.UK.
Planning a journey to Gatwick Airport?
Before driving to the airport, check that your vehicle is taxed, insured and has a valid MOT where required. If you have declared SORN, you must not use the vehicle on public roads for an ordinary airport journey.
For information about airport parking and planning your journey, visit GatwickParking.co.uk.
Official DVLA resources
- Cancel your vehicle tax and get a refund – GOV.UK
- Tell DVLA you have sold or transferred a vehicle – GOV.UK
- Declare a vehicle SORN – GOV.UK
- Cancel vehicle tax Direct Debit payments – GOV.UK
- Check a vehicle’s tax and SORN status – GOV.UK
Last reviewed: November 2026. This guide explains the standard DVLA vehicle tax cancellation and refund process. Individual circumstances may vary, and official GOV.UK guidance takes precedence.