Can I claim road tax refund online?

Yes. You can claim most Vehicle Excise Duty refunds through GOV.UK. You need a Government Gateway account and your vehicle registration number. Refunds for sold vehicles and scrapped vehicles can be processed online. The refund is sent to the registered keeper is bank account.

How long does a road tax refund take?

Online road tax refunds are processed within 5 working days. Postal refunds take 4-6 weeks. The refund is sent by cheque or directly to your bank account depending on how you claimed. Expect the refund to appear within 2 weeks for online claims.

How do I get a refund if I sell my car?

When you sell your car, the road tax does not transfer to the new owner. The new owner must tax the vehicle themselves. Your refund is automatic — when the new keeper registers the vehicle in their name, the remaining road tax is refunded to you. You can also notify DVLA of the sale through GOV.UK.

What happens if I scrap my car — do I get a road tax refund?

Yes. When you scrap a vehicle at an Authorised Treatment Facility, you receive a Certificate of Destruction. Use this to notify DVLA and claim a refund for the remaining months of your road tax. You must notify DVLA within 14 days of scrapping. The refund is based on unused complete months.

How much road tax will I get back?

Road tax refunds are calculated based on unused complete months remaining on your tax period. If you have 6 months left on your tax and you sell, you receive 6 months refund. The refund does not include any months that have already started. DVLA calculates the exact amount based on your payment date and remaining period.

UK Road Tax Refund Online 2026 — How to Claim Your Money ...

UK Road Tax Refund Online 2026

Getting a refund on your road tax is straightforward when you know the process. This guide shows you exactly how to claim Vehicle Excise Duty refunds online through GOV.UK in 2026. ITV.es and DGT.

When Can You Claim a Refund

Valid Refund Scenarios

Vehicle sold:

Road tax remaining after sale
Refund automatically generated when new owner registers
Or claim manually through GOV.UK

Vehicle scrapped:

Certificate of Destruction issued
Must notify DVLA within 14 days
Refund for unused complete months

Vehicle off-road (SORN):

Continuous SORN for 3+ months
Applies to vehicles registered as off-road
Refund for remaining months at renewal

Overpayment:

Incorrect tax rate applied
Wrong CO2 emissions figure used
Duplicate payment

Tax transfer error:

Vehicle was already taxed when purchased
Both parties paid road tax for same period
Refund of duplicate payment

What You Cannot Claim Back

Part months of road tax already used
Fees for missed direct debit payments
Fines or surcharges paid
Road tax from before you owned the vehicle

How to Claim Online

Step 1: Access GOV.UK

Visit: GOV.UK/vehicle-tax-refund

Or search "Claim a vehicle tax refund" on GOV.UK.

Step 2: Create Government Gateway Account

If you do not have one:

1. Click "Sign in with Government Gateway"

2. Select "Create an account"

3. Choose an identity verification method

4. Enter your email and create password

5. Verify your email

6. Complete identity verification steps

Time required: 10-15 minutes for new account

Step 3: Log In and Start Claim

1. Log in with your Government Gateway details

2. Select "Claim a vehicle tax refund"

3. Enter your vehicle registration number

4. Confirm you are the registered keeper

Step 4: Select Reason for Refund

Choose the reason that applies:

Sold or transferred to new keeper
Scrapped at Authorised Treatment Facility
Off the road (SORN)
Overpaid or incorrect payment
Other reason (with explanation)

Step 5: Provide Information

For sold vehicle:

Date of sale
New keeper details (if known)
Sale notification reference (if submitted)
Your bank details for refund

For scrapped vehicle:

Certificate of Destruction number
Date of scrapping
Authorised Treatment Facility name
Your bank details for refund

For overpayment:

Explanation of why you overpaid
Evidence of payment
Your bank details for refund

Step 6: Submit and Wait

1. Review all information entered

2. Submit the claim

3. Note the confirmation reference number

4. Wait for confirmation email

Processing time: 5 working days for online refund

Claiming by Post

When to Use Post

Original V5C needs to be returned
Complex ownership situation
No access to online services
Prefer written record

What to Include

For scrapped vehicle:

V5C log book (original)
Certificate of Destruction
Covering letter with reason
Your bank details or address for cheque

For sold vehicle:

V5C log book (if not transferred to new keeper)
Bill of sale or transfer receipt
Covering letter explaining situation
Your bank details or address

DVLA Address for Refunds

```

DVLA

Refund Services

Swansea

SA99 1AL

```

Write "Refund Claim" on the envelope.

Refund Amount Calculation

How Refunds Are Calculated

Refunds are based on unused complete months remaining.

Example calculation:

You paid 12 months road tax (GBP 180)
6 months remain on your tax period
You sell the vehicle after 6 months
Refund: GBP 90 (6/12 of annual payment)

What Counts as a Complete Month

A complete month means:

Full calendar month remaining
If you sell on January 15, February onwards is refundable
January is not refundable as it has already started

Refund Amount Examples

| Remaining Months | Annual Tax £| Refund Amount |

|-----------------|----------------|---------------|

| 12 months | £180 | £180 |

| 9 months | £180 | £135 |

| 6 months | £180 | £90 |

| 3 months | £180 | £45 |

| 1 month | £180 | £15 |

Refund Delivery Methods

Bank Transfer

For online claims:

Refund sent to bank account provided
Faster processing
Within 5 working days of approval

What to provide:

Account holder name
Sort code (6 digits)
Account number

Cheque

For postal claims:

Cheque sent to your registered address
Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery
May take longer during busy periods

For online claims (if no bank details):

Cheque can be requested
Sent to your address on V5C
Slower than bank transfer

Tracking Your Refund

Online Status Check

1. Log in to Government Gateway

2. Check your "Applications and services"

3. Look for refund status updates

4. Check email for updates

Calling DVLA

If your refund has not arrived:

Call 0300 790 6102
Have your vehicle registration ready
Provide the claim reference number
Ask about refund status and expected date

Time to wait before calling:

Online claim: 10 working days
Postal claim: 6 weeks

Common Refund Problems

Problem: Vehicle Already Transferred

Situation: New owner has already registered the vehicle.

Solution: Your refund should have been sent automatically. If not received within 2 weeks, call DVLA.

Problem: Certificate of Destruction Not Accepted

Situation: DVLA rejects your scrapping claim.

Solution: Ensure the facility is on the Environment Agency Authorised Treatment Facility list. Provide a copy of the Certificate of Destruction.

Problem: Refund Amount Looks Wrong

Situation: You received less than expected.

Solution: Call 0300 790 6102 to query the calculation. Refunds are based on complete months remaining, not from the day you sell.

Problem: Refund Sent to Wrong Address

Situation: You have moved since selling the car.

Solution: Update your address with DVLA before claiming refund. Use the address where you can receive post.

Key Takeaways

1. Online refund claims process in 5 working days

2. Unused complete months are refunded, not partial months

3. Scrapped vehicles require Certificate of Destruction

4. Sold vehicles generate automatic refund when new owner registers

5. Government Gateway account required for online claims

6. Bank transfer is fastest — cheque takes 4-6 weeks

7. Notify DVLA within 14 days of scrapping

8. Keep V5C and sale documents as evidence for at least 1 year

Claiming a road tax refund online through GOV.UK is the fastest method. Set up a Government Gateway account before you sell your car so you are ready to claim immediately.

Official Resources: ITV.es - ITV Booking | DGT - Direccion General de Trafico