Analytics cookies: Google Analytics only loads if you accept. Privacy details .
Reject Accept
Independent guide. Not affiliated with GOV.UK, DVLA or HMRC.
Tax status guide
Check if a car is taxed Use the official GOV.UK checker for a live taxed or untaxed result. cartax.org.uk is an independent guide and does not query the DVLA database directly.
How to check
Step 1
Have the registration ready The GOV.UK checker asks for the vehicle registration number and returns the live tax-status result.
Step 2
Use the official public checker For current taxed or untaxed status, GOV.UK is the source to use. cartax.org.uk does not run a direct DVLA lookup.
Step 3
Return here for the VED estimate After checking status, use the manual calculator to estimate the April 2026 VED amount for the car you are comparing.
What GOV.UK gives you
A live taxed or untaxed result for the registration number. A direct public route that works today without a DVLA API key. A better source for status than any unofficial cached lookup. Common questions
Can cartax.org.uk check my vehicle tax live? No. This site provides a manual VED calculator and guidance pages. Live tax-status checks are sent to the official GOV.UK service.
What is the difference between status and VED estimate? Tax status tells you whether a vehicle is currently taxed. The VED calculator estimates what the annual tax should be under the April 2026 rules.
Do I need an account to check tax status? No account is needed for the public GOV.UK checker. You can open it directly and enter the registration number there.
car tax .org.uk 2026/27 UK VED calculator with dedicated pages for rates, EV tax changes and links to the official vehicle tax-status checker.
Powered by the VED.org.uk data engine.