Delay paying £190 car tax on EV until April 2026 (action needed before the end of March 2025)

Martinonline said:
I know, it looks wrong but currently the tax is not due until April 2026 according to the heck site so I'll wait and see. I may have to go the SORN route.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't need to. Pretty much this happened to me last year, because I used the number on the letter I had, instead of the number on the registration document. But I got it sorted without SORNing the car.

You will need to wait a few days, I think it may be four working days. Until that time is up the site will just tell you "this car has been taxed within the past x days" and you won't be able to do anything. Once that time is up, go back in and TELL IT THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE A LETTER FROM THE DVLA. It will then prompt you to enter the number on the registration document. Do that, and proceed. At some point you will see the warning that if you go on you will lose the car tax you already paid. Say you're OK about that, and tax it from 1st March.
 

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Well, maybe they're letting anyone away with it if they tax the car before 1st April, even if it's due on 1st April? If that's the case, I should have left mine alone last year. Oh well, never mind.
 
Having thought about this it may be that the new rules only apply for those registering/taxing or renewing after the 1st April because the EV car regulations are changing rather than just a tax increase. Will have to see if someone who receives a tax reminder letter has a tax of £0.0 for April onwards.

Of course, the DVLA software could have a bug.
 
Rolfe said:
Well, maybe they're letting anyone away with it if they tax the car before 1st April, even if it's due on 1st April? If that's the case, I should have left mine alone last year. Oh well, never mind.
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dsimpkins said:
What's to stop you renewing it again now?
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I think @Rolfe shifted her tax year back from April to March last year and so has 'lost' a month of zero tax. Renewing it now does not help with that.
 
From the GOV.UK website...
You can tax your vehicle up to 2 months before it expires if you’re going to be away from home (for example on holiday) when your current tax runs out.

www.gov.uk

Apply for vehicle tax in advance

Tax your vehicle up to 2 months in advance if it's due to run out while you're away from home
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk


You can tax your vehicle online while you’re away from home. You’ll need the following:

  • V5C vehicle registration certificate (log book) number
  • vehicle registration number
You can only do this from the 5th of the month.

Example​

You can tax online from 5 March if your vehicle tax runs out on 31 March.

​

 
Martinonline said:
I think @Rolfe shifted her tax year back from April to March last year and so has 'lost' a month of zero tax. Renewing it now does not help with that.
Click to expand...
That’s true, but doing so would also avoid 2026 likely new rate rises that will likely apply from April 1st? And subsequent years too. So it might be better to retax it for March 1st perhaps? Peter
 
Gomev said:
From the GOV.UK website...
You can tax your vehicle up to 2 months before it expires if you’re going to be away from home (for example on holiday) when your current tax runs out.

www.gov.uk

Apply for vehicle tax in advance

Tax your vehicle up to 2 months in advance if it's due to run out while you're away from home
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk


You can tax your vehicle online while you’re away from home. You’ll need the following:

  • V5C vehicle registration certificate (log book) number
  • vehicle registration number
You can only do this from the 5th of the month.

Example​

You can tax online from 5 March if your vehicle tax runs out on 31 March.

​

Click to expand...
Interesting example in that the website allowed me to renew my tax, which was due to end on 31st March 2025, on the 1st March. The ved checker website states my car is now taxed with a renewal date of 1st April 2026.
 
So my MG5 shows as "Vehicle status - Taxed"
and my MG4 shows as "Vehicle status - Taxed & due"

plus a confirmation

12 month vehicle tax for vehicle registration XX01 XXX valid from 01 April 2025 £0.00Total £0.00
 
Yes it does seem odd. Did I do something wrong? Will I need to SORN?

How do you change the date from April 1st to March 1st, couldn't find that option.

Yes says expires April 1st but also "12 month vehicle tax for vehicle registration XX01 XXX valid from 01 April 2025 £0.00Total £0.00"
 

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