How do I check if my car is taxed?

Question

Accepted Answer

You can check whether any UK-registered vehicle currently has valid road tax (VED) using just its registration number — no login or ownership proof required, since this is public information.

What a tax check shows:

Whether the vehicle is currently taxed
The tax due date (when it needs renewing)
Whether it's registered as SORN (off the road and exempt from tax)

This is worth checking not just for your own car, but for any vehicle you're about to buy — tax status doesn't automatically tell you about the car's condition, mileage accuracy, or history, so it's best treated as one check among several rather than a full picture on its own.

If a vehicle shows as untaxed and you're not the current keeper, don't assume it's off the road for a harmless reason — it can also indicate the car hasn't been used or maintained for a while.