How to Tax My Car From Abroad without the V5C or a Reminder Letter

Leodogger

I have been abroad for 2 months and my Car Tax is Due but I don't have the V5C or the Reminder Letter to hand to tax it online.  Also though my tax is due on 31st October, my MOT runs out on 2nd November so if I leave it until I return it will be without an MOT too !   Can I get it taxed from abroad without these documents and if not what will happen if I fail to renew the tax until I get home?  I am not due to return to the UK until 27th November !

prettyandfluffy

Can anyone access the V5C for you and send you a photo of it?

user1977

I don't think the MoT is an issue unless the car is being driven in your absence (technically I think it's required even if parked on the road, but from previous discussions it doesn't seem to be something enforced in practice).

As above, can't anybody else at home access your V5C or post?

Leodogger

prettyandfluffy said:

Can anyone access the V5C for you and send you a photo of it?

No, my house is locked up and no member of the family have a key.

Leodogger

user1977 said:

I don't think the MoT is an issue unless the car is being driven in your absence (technically I think it's required even if parked on the road, but from previous discussions it doesn't seem to be something enforced in practice).

As above, can't anybody else at home access your V5C or post?

No as stated above, no one has a key to my house.   The car is parked on the driveway so not on the road, but I have just read the Government website and I am sure I read that you can be fined for not renewing your car tax on time, is that true?

Cloth_of_Gold

Leodogger said:

user1977 said:

I don't think the MoT is an issue unless the car is being driven in your absence (technically I think it's required even if parked on the road, but from previous discussions it doesn't seem to be something enforced in practice).

As above, can't anybody else at home access your V5C or post?

No as stated above, no one has a key to my house.   The car is parked on the driveway so not on the road, but I have just read the Government website and I am sure I read that you can be fined for not renewing your car tax on time, is that true?

If is is on the driveway why don't you make a SORN. https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn  You can do this online.

Ayr_Rage

@Cloth_of_Gold you still need the V5 details to make a SORN if you don't have the letter, email or text !

You can apply using the:

• 11-digit number in your vehicle log book (V5C)
• 16-digit reference number on your vehicle tax reminder

Your vehicle tax reminder can be a letter (V11), email or text message.

@Leodogger you are correct, a vehicle has to be either taxed or a SORN declaration made, if neither is done you probably will be fined.

I've recently signed up to the new online system so hopefully will get email or text reminders with the vital number next time tax is due.

Cloth_of_Gold

Ayr_Rage said:

@Cloth_of_Gold you still need the V5 details to make a SORN if you don't have the letter, email or text !

You can apply using the:

• 11-digit number in your vehicle log book (V5C)
• 16-digit reference number on your vehicle tax reminder

Your vehicle tax reminder can be a letter (V11), email or text message.

@Leodogger you are correct, a vehicle has to be either taxed or a SORN declaration made, if neither is done you probably will be fined.

I've recently signed up to the new online system so hopefully will get email or text reminders with the vital number next time tax is due.

This can't be the first time this has happened to someone. Perhaps he could ring the DVLA and explain the situation and they might have an answer. We ahd to ring them recently about a driving licence issue and they answered they offered a ring-back, and they rang back in just a few minutes

Leodogger

Ayr_Rage said:

@Cloth_of_Gold you still need the V5 details to make a SORN if you don't have the letter, email or text !

You can apply using the:

• 11-digit number in your vehicle log book (V5C)
• 16-digit reference number on your vehicle tax reminder

Your vehicle tax reminder can be a letter (V11), email or text message.

@Leodogger you are correct, a vehicle has to be either taxed or a SORN declaration made, if neither is done you probably will be fined.

I've recently signed up to the new online system so hopefully will get email or text reminders with the vital number next time tax is due.

Yes I have just set up a digital account online too, so hopefully the email or text reminder will have the vital number on it to renew my tax online, if not I am stuffed !🙄

Leodogger

Cloth_of_Gold said:

Ayr_Rage said:

@Cloth_of_Gold you still need the V5 details to make a SORN if you don't have the letter, email or text !

You can apply using the:

• 11-digit number in your vehicle log book (V5C)
• 16-digit reference number on your vehicle tax reminder

Your vehicle tax reminder can be a letter (V11), email or text message.

@Leodogger you are correct, a vehicle has to be either taxed or a SORN declaration made, if neither is done you probably will be fined.

I've recently signed up to the new online system so hopefully will get email or text reminders with the vital number next time tax is due.

This can't be the first time this has happened to someone. Perhaps he could ring the DVLA and explain the situation and they might have an answer. We ahd to ring them recently about a driving licence issue and they answered they offered a ring-back, and they rang back in just a few minutes

Well I have set the account up online and hopefully I will be able to renew the car tax before the MOT runs out on 2/11.   As you say this must happen to thousands of people and I can't see why they don't make it easy to tax from abroad without the documents since it is they who are losing out on revenue if you don't, or is it just that they like to fine people for yet more money than the tax is worth !!🙄   If I don't get it done on time or they do not send the reminder, I will ring them on the 31st and try to do it over the phone !

Ayr_Rage

@Leodogger best of luck and please keep us updated as to what and when you get from your DVLA account by way of texts or emails.

Hopefully they'll send a final reminder in the next couple of days with that vital reference number.