Yes, you can check if a car is taxed in seconds - just enter its registration and you'll see whether it's Taxed, Untaxed or SORN, plus the date the tax is due. RegScan pulls this straight from the DVLA, free, with no sign-up and no card. Check a vehicle now.

How to check if a car is taxed

You need one thing: the number plate. Enter the registration into RegScan's checker and it queries the DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service - the same official record the GOV.UK service uses - and returns the vehicle's current tax status and tax due date, alongside its MOT status. No account, no payment, no waiting.

You can check any UK vehicle this way, not just your own - useful before buying a used car, or if you've spotted a vehicle you think might be untaxed.

What the tax statuses mean

  • Taxed - vehicle tax (VED) is paid and up to date. You'll also see the date it's next due.
  • Untaxed - tax has lapsed. It's illegal to drive or keep the vehicle on a public road until it's taxed again.
  • SORN - the vehicle has a Statutory Off Road Notification, so it's legally declared off the road and doesn't need tax while kept on private land.

What does SORN mean?

SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. You make a SORN when you're not using a vehicle and keeping it off public roads - for example while it's stored, being repaired, or between owners. While SORN, you don't pay tax, but the car must not be driven or parked on a public road. The SORN stays in place until you tax the vehicle again.

What happens if your car isn't taxed?

Driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road can trigger an automatic £80 penalty (halved if paid quickly), and the DVLA runs number-plate cameras that detect untaxed vehicles. If it's ignored, penalties escalate and the vehicle can be clamped or impounded. Taxing the car - which you can do online in minutes - clears it, provided the vehicle also has a valid MOT where one is required.

How vehicle tax bands work

How much you pay depends on when the car was first registered. Cars registered from April 2017 pay a flat standard rate each year (with a surcharge for the first few years if the list price was over £40,000). Cars registered between March 2001 and March 2017 are taxed by CO2 emission band (A to M) - the lower the CO2, the lower the tax. RegScan shows the CO2 figure and band so you can see roughly where a car sits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if my car is taxed?

Enter your registration on RegScan (or the GOV.UK vehicle tax check). You'll instantly see whether the car is Taxed, Untaxed or SORN, and when the tax is due. It's free and needs no account.

Can I check if someone else's car is taxed?

Yes. Tax status is public information tied to the registration, so you can check any UK vehicle - handy before buying a used car.

Is it illegal to drive an untaxed car?

Yes. It's illegal to drive or keep an untaxed vehicle on a public road unless it's declared SORN and kept off the road. Driving untaxed risks a fine and clamping.

What's the difference between untaxed and SORN?

Untaxed means the tax has lapsed but the car hasn't been declared off the road - which is an offence if it's on a public road. SORN means you've formally declared it off the road, so no tax is due while it's kept on private land.

Do I need an MOT to tax my car?

Usually yes. For most vehicles you need a valid MOT to tax the car, so it's worth checking both at once. RegScan shows MOT and tax status together.