Classic car owners issued urgent warning by DVLA to tax vehicles or face fines

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has updated its guidance to help owners of classic cars properly tax their vehicles.

The INF34 document outlines what drivers need to do to register their vehicle as being historic and how to tax it.

People can tax their vehicle in the historic vehicle class from April 1 if their vehicle is recorded as being registered more than 40 years ago.

For example, a vehicle registered in February 1983 will be eligible to tax as a historic vehicle from April 1, 2024.

This data would need to be included in the V5C registration certificate (log book) and will allow drivers to get a better understanding of their vehicle.

READ MORE: Motorists urged to turn the heating on in their cars this summer

The qualifying vehicles include private or light goods vehicles, motorcycles and tricycles, private HGVs, special vehicles, haulage vehicles and special concessionary vehicles.

Exemptions do apply to some of these vehicles, including any HGVs used for business, HGVs used for training or testing purposes and showman’s vehicles.

People also cannot tax the vehicle in the historic tax class if the vehicle is used for hire or reward or if it is used commercially in connection with a trade or business.

As with any kind of vehicle, a historic car must be taxed even if the rate of vehicle tax is £0.

It must also be insured every year and must, by law, have a minimum of third-party insurance that covers the use of the vehicle on the public road. 

Around two weeks before the tax runs out, the DVLA will send a “vehicle tax reminder” or V11 note, to ensure drivers are up to date with taxation.

To tax a vehicle in the historic tax class, drivers can visit a Post Office branch, where they will need the V5C log book proving that it is over the 40-year registration threshold.

They will also need a test certificate, like an MOT certificate, as well as a completed V10 form which can be downloaded from GOV.UK.

Motorists in Northern Ireland are also required to have a cover note when applying. This must be a downloaded copy, not a photocopy.

If the DVLA nor the owner know when the vehicle was built, but it was registered before January 8, 1983, they will not need to pay vehicle tax from April 1, 2023.

Classic car owners, as well as all other motorists, must tax their vehicles, even if they are not required to pay any tax.

Classic car owners do not need to get an MOT if the vehicle was first registered more than 40 years ago, but the vehicle must be kept in a roadworthy condition.

A driver will be fined if they are found to be driving a historic car that has not been taxed or if they fail to tax it in time.