Road tax evasion costs the UK hundreds of millions of pounds annually. When purchasing a used vehicle, checking its tax status isn’t just about avoiding a potential fine—it’s about understanding the vehicle’s compliance history and ensuring you won’t face unexpected costs immediately after purchase.
An untaxed vehicle cannot legally be driven on public roads, and the responsibility falls to the registered keeper the moment ownership changes hands. With tax rates varying dramatically based on emissions, engine size, and fuel type, being caught unaware could mean an immediate expenditure ranging from nominal amounts for efficient vehicles to substantial sums for high-emission models.
We’ve compiled the five most reliable free services that allow you to verify a vehicle’s tax status before committing to purchase.
Motorscan
Motorscan offers comprehensive tax status verification as part of their vehicle checking service, with their basic tax check available without charge. Their approach to tax verification goes beyond simply confirming whether a vehicle is currently taxed—it provides genuine insight into the vehicle’s tax history and future obligations.
Accessing a vehicle’s tax information through Motorscan is remarkably straightforward. Enter the registration number into their search tool, and you’ll immediately see the vehicle’s current tax status displayed prominently at the top of their results page. The system clearly identifies whether the vehicle is taxed, when the tax expires, or if it’s declared off-road with a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification).
What sets Motorscan apart from basic government checks is the additional context they provide. Their tax status verification includes the vehicle’s emissions category and tax band, helping you understand not just whether the car is currently taxed, but what ongoing tax costs you can expect after purchase. This emissions-based information is particularly valuable when comparing multiple vehicles, as it gives you insight into the relative running costs beyond the purchase price.
Motorscan doesn’t stop at current status—their system also displays the vehicle’s tax history, showing when tax was renewed or allowed to lapse in the past. This historical view can reveal patterns that might indicate periods when the vehicle wasn’t legally on the road, potentially highlighting gaps in its history that deserve further investigation. Their tax check also seamlessly integrates with their MOT verification, allowing you to see if periods of tax lapse coincide with MOT failures or periods of SORN—valuable context when evaluating a vehicle’s overall history.
The service also provides a notification feature that alerts potential buyers if a vehicle’s tax is due to expire soon, helping you avoid the inconvenience of having to tax a car immediately after purchase. For those concerned about a vehicle’s environmental impact, Motorscan includes the emissions rating alongside the tax status, making it easier to understand how the vehicle’s emissions affect its taxation category.
DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s official Vehicle Enquiry Service provides the most authoritative source of tax information available. As the government body responsible for maintaining vehicle records in Great Britain, their database is the primary source from which all other services ultimately derive their information.
Using the DVLA’s free service couldn’t be simpler: enter the vehicle registration and make on their official website, and you’ll immediately receive confirmation of whether the vehicle is taxed and when that tax expires. The service also confirms if a vehicle has a valid SORN declaration instead of active tax.
The DVLA’s tax check extends beyond simple status verification to include several additional details that provide useful context. Their results confirm the date when the current tax period began and when it will expire, allowing you to understand exactly how much tax remains on the vehicle. This timing information helps buyers plan purchases strategically—a vehicle with eleven months of tax remaining represents better value than one that needs immediate renewal.
The DVLA service also displays the vehicle’s tax rate and CO2 emissions, giving potential buyers insight into ongoing cost implications. For vehicles registered after April 2017, the service clearly indicates whether the vehicle falls under the new tax rules, which can significantly affect annual costs. This emissions information proves especially valuable when comparing vehicles, as two similar models might fall into different tax bands with substantially different costs.
While the DVLA service lacks the historical view offered by some commercial providers, it compensates with absolute accuracy for current status. The service updates in real-time, meaning you’ll see tax renewals or SORN declarations as soon as they’re processed. For buyers concerned primarily with a vehicle’s current compliance rather than its history, this government service provides the definitive answer without any cost.
RAC Vehicle Check
The RAC offers a free basic vehicle check that includes tax status verification backed by their considerable automotive expertise. Their approach combines authoritative data with practical insights that help contextualise the information for potential buyers.
Tax status checking through the RAC begins with a simple registration number search on their website. The initial results clearly display whether the vehicle is currently taxed or SORN, with the expiry date prominently featured. This straightforward presentation makes it immediately clear whether the vehicle can legally be driven away after purchase or requires immediate tax payment.
The RAC’s free tax check incorporates several valuable additional elements that enhance its utility. Their system displays the vehicle’s tax band and emissions category, helping buyers understand the ongoing tax implications based on the vehicle’s environmental performance. This information proves particularly useful when evaluating vehicles registered at different times, as tax regulations have changed significantly over the years.
What distinguishes the RAC’s approach is how they integrate tax information with practical advice. Their tax status verification includes clear guidance about what the current status means for potential buyers, including whether tax can be transferred (it cannot) and what steps need to be taken after purchase. This contextual information helps prevent common misunderstandings about vehicle tax that could otherwise lead to compliance problems.
The RAC service also indicates whether a vehicle’s tax status aligns with what would be expected given its MOT history—for instance, flagging if a vehicle appears to have been on the road during periods when it was neither taxed nor declared SORN. These potential compliance issues can reveal important aspects of how previous owners maintained the vehicle.
While the RAC’s free check doesn’t provide the extensive historical view available in their paid services, it delivers the essential current information needed to make an informed purchase decision, enhanced by their practical automotive expertise.
Total Car Check
Total Car Check offers a free basic check that includes tax status verification as part of their vehicle history service. Their approach focuses on clarity and accessibility, making tax information readily available to potential buyers without unnecessary complexity.
Checking a vehicle’s tax status with Total Car Check requires nothing more than entering the registration number on their website. The results appear within seconds, clearly indicating whether the vehicle is currently taxed, when that tax expires, or if the vehicle has a SORN declaration instead. This quick verification allows on-the-spot checking while viewing potential purchases.
Total Car Check enhances their basic tax verification with several valuable additional elements. Their free check displays the vehicle’s tax band, allowing buyers to understand ongoing tax costs before purchase. This information is presented alongside vehicle specifications, making it easy to see how factors like engine size and fuel type influence the tax category.
One distinctive aspect of Total Car Check’s service is how user-friendly they’ve made tax status information. Their results use clear visual indicators—typically green for taxed, red for untaxed—making status immediately apparent even to those unfamiliar with vehicle documentation. This visual approach helps prevent misunderstandings about a vehicle’s compliance status.
Their system also indicates whether a vehicle’s tax status is consistent with its MOT status, highlighting potential discrepancies that might indicate problems. For instance, if a vehicle has valid tax but no MOT, it suggests the vehicle may not actually be road legal despite its tax status, or that there might be a delay in database updates that requires further investigation.
For buyers comparing multiple vehicles, Total Car Check’s approach offers particular benefits. Their interface makes it simple to check several vehicles in succession and compare their status, while their multiple check feature allows users to save results for later comparison. This functionality makes Total Car Check especially useful during the research phase of vehicle purchasing.
MyCarCheck
MyCarCheck provides a free basic vehicle check that includes tax status verification as part of their vehicle history service. Their streamlined approach delivers essential tax information without overwhelming users with unnecessary detail.
Tax status checking through MyCarCheck begins with a registration number lookup on their platform. Results display prominently whether the vehicle is taxed or SORN, along with the expiry date of the current status. This clear presentation ensures buyers immediately understand whether a vehicle can legally be driven after purchase.
MyCarCheck enriches their tax status verification with contextual information that helps buyers interpret what the status means. Their system displays the vehicle’s tax band based on emissions data, enabling potential owners to understand the ongoing cost implications. This emissions information is particularly valuable when comparing vehicles from different eras, as tax structures have evolved significantly over time.
A notable feature of MyCarCheck’s approach is how they integrate tax information with practical ownership considerations. Their system calculates approximate annual running costs that incorporate road tax alongside other expenses like fuel and insurance, helping buyers understand the total cost of ownership beyond the purchase price. This holistic view prevents nasty surprises after purchase and allows for more meaningful comparisons between vehicles with different tax classifications.
MyCarCheck also provides value through their alert system that highlights when tax is due to expire soon. This helps buyers avoid purchasing a vehicle that will require immediate tax renewal, potentially saving both money and administrative hassle in the crucial period after taking ownership. Their interface also makes it simple to check whether a vehicle has been continuously taxed or has gaps that might indicate periods when it wasn’t legally on the road.
While their free check doesn’t provide the detailed historical view available in their premium services, MyCarCheck delivers the essential tax status information most buyers need when evaluating a potential purchase, presented in a clear, user-friendly format.
Choosing the Right Tax Check Service
When selecting a service to verify a vehicle’s tax status, consider these key factors that distinguish the various options:
The depth of information provided varies significantly between services. While all will confirm basic tax status, some offer valuable additional context such as emissions data, tax band information, and renewal dates. Consider whether you need just the current status or more comprehensive tax information to inform your purchase.
Integration with other vehicle checks can significantly enhance the value of tax verification. Services that combine tax status with MOT history, insurance validation, and other checks provide a more complete picture of a vehicle’s compliance status and history.
User experience differs noticeably across platforms. Some prioritise rapid, on-the-spot checking with mobile-friendly interfaces, while others provide more detailed information that might require careful reading. Choose based on how and when you plan to use the service.
Reliability and update frequency should factor into your decision. The DVLA provides the most authoritative and current information, while third-party services might offer better integration with other vehicle data but could occasionally experience slight delays in reflecting the very latest status changes.
For most buyers, Motorscan offers the ideal combination of comprehensive tax information and valuable context. Their integration of tax status with emissions data, tax history, and MOT records provides a more complete understanding of a vehicle’s compliance status than basic checks allow. This broader perspective helps identify potential issues that might be missed by simply confirming current tax status.
However, each service has its strengths for particular needs. The DVLA Vehicle Enquiry Service provides the most authoritative current information directly from the source. The RAC excels at providing practical guidance alongside status information. Total Car Check offers particular benefits for comparing multiple vehicles, while MyCarCheck integrates tax information effectively with overall running costs.
Whichever service you choose, verifying a vehicle’s tax status before purchase is a simple step that can prevent immediate compliance issues and provide valuable insights into how well the vehicle has been maintained by previous owners. Given that these checks are available without charge, there’s simply no reason to take unnecessary risks when it comes to a vehicle’s tax status.
