Keeping your car details updated
Use these links to GOV.UK to keep details about your car up to date: if you do not update them when necessary, you could be breaking the law. You can also use GOV.UK to check a vehicle’s details, such as its past MOT tests and whether it has a vehicle identity check (VIC) marker.
Vehicle registration
- How to register your vehicle with DVLA.
- How to change the address on your V5C registration certificate.
- How to get a new V5C.
- How to change the vehicle details on a V5C (for example, change of colour or engine size).
Number plates
- How to transfer your vehicle registration number from one vehicle to another.
- Find out the rules about displaying number plates on your vehicle.
- Find out how to buy, register and transfer a personalised number.
- Use the DVLA Personalised Registrations website to buy a personalised number.
Buying and selling a vehicle
- How to tell DVLA if you sell your vehicle.
- What to do if your vehicle is being scrapped or written off.
If you're buying a second-hand car, use the advice and tools on GOV.UK to make sure it has not been stolen.
If you know the make of a vehicle and its registration number, you can use the DVLA vehicle online service to find out
- when its tax is due to expire
- the date that a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN) expires
- the date it was first registered
- colour
- engine size
- year of manufacture
- CO2 emissions
- current vehicle tax rate.
Whenever a vehicle is bought or sold, the vehicle tax needs to be paid by the person receiving it before they drive it. The seller gets a refund for any tax they have paid for beyond the date ownership changed. For more information, see www.gov.uk/vehicletaxrules.
What to do if your vehicle is stolen
Follow this guide to report your vehicle stolen (GOV.UK) and claim a vehicle tax refund.
MOT test
The fee for the annual MOT test depends on the class of vehicle. See GOV.UK for a full list of MOT test fees.
You can also check a vehicle’s MOT test history and its current MOT test status on GOV.UK.
To get MOT test reminders sent to your mobile phone and email address, visit GOV.UK.
To catch up with the latest news about the MOT test, read DVSA's Matters of Testing blog.
Vehicle identity checks
If a car is written off by an insurance company, the insurer will tell DVLA so a vehicle identity check marker ('VIC marker') can be put on the vehicle record.
Find out more about the vehicle identity check at GOV.UK.
You can apply for a vehicle identity check: if the car passes the check, you’ll be able to tax it.
If you’re getting a vehicle identity check done, you can find your nearest VIC site on GOV.UK.