The short answer
To tax a vehicle online, GOV.UK asks for a reference number from one of three documents: a recent vehicle tax reminder or ‘last chance’ warning letter from DVLA, the V5C logbook (it must be in your name), or the green ‘new keeper’ slip from a logbook if you've just bought the vehicle.
If you have none of them, you apply for a replacement logbook instead, and you can tax the vehicle at the same time. A missing logbook slows you down. It doesn't stop you.
Which situation are you in?
| You have | What to do |
|---|---|
| A tax reminder or ‘last chance’ letter | Tax it online with the reference number on the letter. |
| The V5C, in your name | Tax it online with the reference number from the V5C. |
| The green new keeper slip | Tax it online with the reference number from the slip. |
| Nothing, and you're the registered keeper | Apply online or by phone for a replacement V5C and tax the vehicle at the same time. How that works. |
| Nothing, and you've just bought the vehicle | Apply by post with form V62, or at a Post Office that offers it. How that works. |
If you're the registered keeper and the logbook is lost
DVLA lets you apply for a replacement V5C online or by phone. It usually costs £25, you pay by card, and the new logbook usually arrives within 5 to 7 working days. You can tax the vehicle online at the same time.
You'll need the registration number, the vehicle identification number (VIN) or chassis number, and the name and postcode registered on the V5C.
If you've just bought the vehicle
If you didn't get a V5C for your new vehicle, it's a postal application using form V62. GOV.UK asks for £25 unless you send the green new keeper slip from the most recent V5C with it. By post, expect around four weeks.
If you also need to tax the vehicle, you may be able to do both at a Post Office: take the completed V62 and £25 to a branch that deals with vehicle tax, and check the branch offers the service before you travel.
What else you need before you drive
- A valid MOT, if the vehicle needs one. It must be valid when the tax starts, and it can take up to 2 days for a new pass to show in DVLA's records.
- Insurance. You must meet all the legal obligations for drivers before you drive.
- A way to pay. Online you can pay by Direct Debit, or by debit or credit card. You can't set up a Direct Debit over the phone.
At a Post Office in Northern Ireland you'll also need a paper copy of your insurance certificate or cover note, and an original MOT test certificate or evidence of a Temporary Exemption Certificate.
Can you drive while you wait for the new logbook?
The logbook records who the registered keeper is. It isn't what makes a vehicle legal to drive: tax, insurance and, where needed, an MOT are. Once those are in place and you meet the legal obligations for drivers, you don't have to wait for the new V5C to arrive.
Would you rather someone else did it?
You don't need us. Everything above can be done yourself on GOV.UK. If you'd rather hand over the forms and the chasing, that's what we do, for a fee we tell you before you commit.
Questions people ask
How much does a replacement V5C cost?
It usually costs £25, paid by card, when you apply online. You can't get a refund once you've used the service, even if you later find the old logbook. By post, GOV.UK asks for £25 unless you send the green new keeper slip from the most recent V5C with your V62.
How long does a replacement V5C take?
Applied for online or by phone, it usually arrives within 5 to 7 working days. By post it's usually around 4 weeks. Contact DVLA if it hasn't arrived after 2 weeks (online or phone) or 4 weeks (post).
Do I have to be the registered keeper to apply online?
Yes. The online and phone services are for the registered keeper on the V5C, and the new logbook is posted to the address DVLA has on record.
Can I pay vehicle tax monthly?
Yes. You can set up a Direct Debit when you tax online or at a Post Office, but not over the phone. There's a 5% surcharge if you pay monthly or every 6 months, and none if you pay yearly. See GOV.UK’s Direct Debit guide.