At mustard.co.uk, cheap car insurance quotes are quick and easy to find. But as well as great value car cover, the comparison site is also home to all sorts of handy guides that answer a whole host of car related questions. Here, they explain how to cancel your car tax and (more importantly) get a refund.
When can I cancel vehicle tax (vehicle excise duty)?
All cars on UK roads must be taxed. The only exceptions are if:
- Your car has been sold or ownership has been transferred
- You’ve taken your car off the road and arranged a SORN (statutory off road notification)
- The car has been written off or scrapped
- Your car’s been stolen
- The car’s been exported out of the country
- The car is exempt from tax (for example, if it’s 40 years old or more)
It’s important to remember that even if your car is exempt from tax, you must still go through the process of taxing it, you can’t just stop paying tax.
How do I cancel vehicle tax?
There’s only one way to cancel your car tax, and that’s online.
Head to GOV.UK, cancel your vehicle tax, and select the option that fits your circumstances (for instance, if you’ve sold your car, choose this). Don’t forget to have your car’s V5C (logbook) handy as you’ll need it to carry out the cancellation.
You’ll automatically get a refund on any remaining full months of vehicle tax. Refunds are calculated based on the date the DVLA receives notice that you want to cancel your car tax.
If you pay by direct debit, the DVLA will automatically stop any remaining payments on your behalf.
You won’t get a refund for:
- Part months (so if you have three and a half months of tax left, you’ll only get a refund for three months)
- Credit card fees
- Additional charges you’ve paid if you pay for your tax monthly or every six months by direct debit
How do I get my car tax refund?
You’ll be refunded by cheque, which will be sent to the address listed on the car’s V5C logbook (so it’s important that it’s correct).
If you don’t get your refund within eight weeks, you should let the DVLA know by calling 0300 790 6802. Their phone line is open Monday to Friday between 8am-7pm and on Saturday between 8am-2pm. You can also use their webchat service or email them.
What should I do if my refund cheque is wrong?
If the wrong name appears on your refund cheque, you’ll need to post it back to the DVLA and give them the right name. You should send the cheque to the Refund Section, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1AL.
What are the penalties for driving an untaxed car?
If you’re driving an untaxed car, you’ll be sent an ‘out of court settlement’ letter which will ask you to pay a fine. You’ll also be expected to pay one and a half times the amount of car tax you owe.
If you don’t pay this, you can be taken to court. You’ll then either have to pay £1,000 or five times the amount of car tax you owe (whichever amount is bigger).
Compare car insurance at mustard.co.uk
If you’re looking for great value car insurance, comparing quotes at mustard.co.uk could be well worth your while. Not only can you search for deals from a whole host of leading UK insurers, quotes also come with a Cheapest Price Guarantee*. You can start your quote right now or to speak to an expert, call 0330 022 8791.
* T&Cs apply. See mustard.co.uk for details.
