Online car buying has grown rapidly, with platforms offering delivery to your door. Understanding how road tax works after an online purchase ensures you can legally drive your new car home.
Tax Before You Drive
Regardless of where you buy the car — dealer, private seller, or online platform — you cannot drive it on public roads without valid road tax. If the seller had the car delivered, it should be transported on a transporter or with trade plates. If you are collecting it yourself, you must tax it before driving home. Tax online at GOV.UK using the V5C reference number before you set off.
What You Need to Tax After Online Purchase
To tax a car bought online, you need the V5C registration certificate in your name (which may arrive by post days after delivery), your insurance policy, and a valid MOT if the car is over three years old. Online platforms sometimes deliver the car without the V5C — in this case, wait for the V5C to arrive before attempting to tax. Do not drive the vehicle without tax, even if you have insurance and MOT.
When the V5C Arrives
After completing an online purchase, the V5C will be posted to you — DVLA processes keeper change notifications within a few days, and the new V5C can take 2-4 weeks to arrive. Some online dealers provide a temporary registration document allowing you to tax the vehicle immediately. If you need to tax urgently before the V5C arrives, contact the DVLA directly with your purchase documentation.
What the Seller Should Have Done
A reputable online car buying platform should notify DVLA of the sale on your behalf and send you the V5C or guide you through the process. Check whether the platform handles the DVLA notification before purchase. Private sellers should give you the green slip (V5C/2) at the point of sale, which you use to tax immediately. If neither of these happened, you may need to contact the seller or the platform's customer service.
Checking the Vehicle Before Taxing
Before taxing, check the V5C details against what you know about the car: confirm the VIN on the V5C matches the vehicle, the CO2 figure is correct for the model, and the fuel type matches. If anything looks wrong, query it before paying tax at the incorrect rate. Use the car tax calculator at Cartax.online to verify the expected VED cost using the CO2 on the V5C.
Refunds After Online Purchase
If you buy a car online and the V5C shows a different CO2 or fuel type than expected, you may be paying the wrong VED rate. Tax the car first to avoid penalties, then write to DVLA with a Certificate of Conformity to correct the record and claim a refund of overpaid VED. The correction process takes time, so tax at the lower estimate if unsure — you can claim back any overpayment later.