Delay paying £190 car tax on EV until April 2026 (action needed before the end of March 2025)

[siteguru]

September 1st 2025. Re-taxed it,
3rd March 2025. So taxed until 1st March
2026. Saved 6 months. £97.50 happy with that.

Which concurs exactly with what I said.

 

[Martinonline]

You retaxed your car way ahead of its real tax date. You have 'lost' 6 months of tax if you had paid for that tax in the first place. But with zero tax you have lost nothing but have saved £97.50.

You were warned about a loss of tax, I was not. Your tax year moved back to 1st March, mine did not.

Why? I have some ideas but nothing conclusive and so confusion in my mind rages.

I believe that had I retaxed before in February then my tax date would have moved to 1st February; I then could have retaxed this month for a 1st March 2026 renewal date. I suspect I could do it now as I have a renewal date of 1st April 2026 but I am taking a gamble on that date holding rather than losing a month's free tax.

 

[salty]

You retaxed your car way ahead of its real tax date. You have 'lost' 6 months of tax if you had paid for that tax in the first place. But with zero tax you have lost nothing but have saved £97.50.

Exactly. Got my car Sept 14th 2024 So paid NO tax. So saved £97.50 by taxing early.

 

[Martinonline]

Yes, I'm glad you have saved that money but, theoretically, I have saved £195 which according to all existing government information should not be possible. That is the heart of the matter.

 

[salty]

Yes, I'm glad you have saved that money but, theoretically, I have saved £195 which according to all existing government information should not be possible. That is the heart of the matter.

Really hope you have. That would be a great result. But even if you've only saved a month or two or three etc etc. It's better than nowt. Owts better than nowt, as the saying goes.

 

[Gomev]

You retaxed your car way ahead of its real tax date. You have 'lost' 6 months of tax if you had paid for that tax in the first place. But with zero tax you have lost nothing but have saved £97.50.

You were warned about a loss of tax, I was not. Your tax year moved back to 1st March, mine did not.

Why? I have some ideas but nothing conclusive and so confusion in my mind rages.

I believe that had I retaxed before in February then my tax date would have moved to 1st February; I then could have retaxed this month for a 1st March 2026 renewal date. I suspect I could do it now as I have a renewal date of 1st April 2026 but I am taking a gamble on that date holding rather than losing a month's free tax.

Once again, if you read the post I made from the GOV.UK website it states:

'You can tax your vehicle up to 2 months before it expires if you’re going to be away from home (for example on holiday) when your current tax runs out.

This would mean that you of course do not have a reminder letter yet, hence it is done using the V5 reference exactly as you have done.

You are definitely overthinking it, you have merely renewed early within the rules and paid the rate applicable at the time of renewing..

Think of it like doing your MOT a month early except you get 2 months to do it for VED.

 

[siteguru]

The distinction is renewing vs retaxing ... the latter involves messages about losing the current month's tax value and having to pay again. If you don't get those messages then you've renewed rather than retaxed.

 

[Deleted member 18292]

Just checked my tax status on the GOV website today and it now shows taxed until 1st April 2026, so I assume it worked as intended and I will now not pay any tax for 12 months.

 

[tkmaxx5]

Just checked my tax status on the GOV website today and it now shows taxed until 1st April 2026, so I assume it worked as intended and I will now not pay any tax for 12 months.

I was confused about this - I thought I'd taxed early, but DVLA portal now says Tax Due 1st March 2026. Should it be 1st April 2026 if I've done it right? Only a month so not worth sweating I guess but just a bit perplexed!!

 

[Everest]

I thought I'd taxed early, but DVLA portal now says Tax Due 1st March 2026. Should it be 1st April 2026 if I've done it right?

That is correct. You can re-tax anytime in March 2025, which "buys" you 12 months of tax from March 2025 to Feb 2026 inclusive. Next year it will be due from 1st March 2026.

 

[tkmaxx5]

That is correct. You can re-tax anytime in March 2025, which "buys" you 12 months of tax from March 2025 to Feb 2026 inclusive. Next year it will be due from 1st March 2026.

Thank you, that does make sense!

 

[Jomarkh]

I am trying to find out if the TAX on my wife's 2012 Octavia, currently £30, and my daughters 2012 Fabia, currently £0, will go up in April

 

[MG Clive]

I am trying to find out if the TAX on my wife's 2012 Octavia, currently £30, and my daughters 2012 Fabia, currently £0, will go up in April

Ask on the Skoda forum


Sorry, I couldn't resist, does this help > Car tax bands 2025: VED road tax costs explained | RAC Drive

 

[Alibro]

I am trying to find out if the TAX on my wife's 2012 Octavia, currently £30, and my daughters 2012 Fabia, currently £0, will go up in April

Retaxing it this month is so easy that for the Fabia it would be daft not to, I did the same for my dauhters A Class Merc. As for the Octavia I don't think it will be changing but don't quote me on that.

 

[Geoffree]

Thanks for guidance. I was thinking that I might have to take car off road with a SORN and then re-tax in Post Office, but DVLC make it easy! Pleased to have saved a few months of tax

 

[mrg9999]

I know, it looks wrong but currently the tax is not due until April 2026 according to the check site so I'll wait and see. I may have to go the SORN route.

Careful with SORN. Your insurer might automatically cancel your insurance unless you inform them due to change of risk profile

 

[prawlin]

Careful with SORN. Your insurer might automatically cancel your insurance unless you inform them due to change of risk profile

There is no need for anybody to use sorn, that’s a myth rumour with no founding whatsoever. Everyone can renew their VED within this month online using reg number and V5C number. No sorning needed. Surely everyone has done it by now anyway?

 

[emmrecs]

Surely everyone has done it by now anyway?

One would hope so!

 

[mrg9999]

Ask on the Skoda forum


Sorry, I couldn't resist, does this help > Car tax bands 2025: VED road tax costs explained | RAC Drive

There is no need for anybody to use sorn, that’s a myth rumour with no founding whatsoever. Everyone can renew their VED within this month online using reg number and V5C number. No sorning needed. Surely everyone has done it by now anyway?

I can save a few more nano pennies by renewing 31st March 2025. It only seems to let me renew every 5 days. I had a script doing it for a while last year, but recieved a message "We have seen unusual traffic from your IP address and may require additional authentication" I must make sure it does run after this month, that would be silly

 

[emmrecs]

I can save a few more nano pennies by renewing 31st March 2025

You can, but I assume you realise the recorded renewal date will be 1st March 2025 so your next renewal will be due 1st March 2026? If you're hoping it will be recorded as 1st April 2025 then you will be facing the £190 renewal charge immediately.