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    What is a V11 reminder?

    So what is a V11? The V11 is a reminder letter the DVLA issues when your road tax is due for renewal. If you have yet to pay road tax on your car, or you need to apply for a SORN, you may receive one.

    Despite its name looking similar to the V5C, the V11 reminder is simply a prompt, not an essential document. Do not have a V11 to hand? You can check your car’s tax and MOT status with Motorway’s free tax checker to see when your road tax or MOT is due.

    What is a V11 form?

    Drivers often ask what is a V11 form for. You complete a V11 to tax or SORN your car, and it points you to the quickest way to do it. It is one of the most common pieces of DVLA post, so it pays to know what to do with it.

    The DVLA used to issue it in a text-heavy format that drivers found unclear. The DVLA later redesigned it into a clearer three-section layout.

    The three sections work like this:

    • Top section: your name, address, vehicle registration, and road tax expiry date.
    • Middle section: where you tell the DVLA to pay road tax, register a SORN, or confirm you no longer own the car.
    • Final section: your options to tax by phone, online, or at a Post Office.

    Each section guides you through one decision, so the form is quick to complete. Once your name and vehicle details match the DVLA’s records, you can tax, SORN, or report a change of ownership.

    If any of your details are wrong, tell the DVLA before you tax the car. Getting your name, address, and registration right keeps your record accurate and avoids delays at renewal.

    When do I receive a V11?

    You should receive a V11 before your road tax renewal is due. Treat it as a last reminder, never your only prompt. Not receiving it, losing it, or ignoring it are not excuses for driving untaxed.

    Consider paying by Direct Debit if you use your car year-round. Remember to cancel the Direct Debit when you sell your car. Road tax does not transfer between cars, so set up a fresh one for your next car.

    What you pay varies with your vehicle, its emissions, or its engine size. Checking your renewal date early gives you time to budget for it. Setting a reminder on your phone is a simple backup if the letter is late.

    Where is the 16 digit reference number on V11?

    You will find the 16 digit reference number at the top of your V11. You need it to pay road tax or declare a SORN through the DVLA’s phone or online service. Keep the letter safe until your renewal is complete, because this number is the quickest route to sorting your tax.

    If you cannot find your V11, do not worry. You can still tax or SORN the car using your V5C instead.

    How do I tax my car with a V11?

    The 16 digit reference number lets you renew your road tax online or by phone in minutes. You can tax your vehicle on GOV.UK using the reference number from your V11 reminder, so a mislaid reminder need not hold you up. Have your payment details ready if you plan to tax the car there and then.

    How to tax a car without a V5 or V11 form

    Yes, you can tax a car without a V11. Use one of these documents:

    • your V5C logbook
    • a V62 application for a registration certificate
    • a green ‘new keeper’ slip if you have just bought the car

    You will need either the 11 digit reference from your V5C or the 12 digit reference from your new keeper slip. GOV.UK explains how to tax without a reminder and which number to use. If your logbook is missing, our guide on how to tax a car without a V5C logbook walks you through the steps.

    Whichever document you use, taxing takes only a few minutes online. You will get confirmation once the payment goes through.

    How to SORN a car without a V11

    You do not need a V11 to SORN your vehicle. You can do it online or with your V5C. The V11 is a reminder rather than an essential document.

    If you do have your V11, the same 16 digit number lets you make a SORN on GOV.UK in a few steps. This is handy when you are taking your car off the road for a while. You can lift the SORN later by taxing the car again when you are ready to drive it.

    Is a V11 the same as a V5C?

    No, the V11 and the V5C are two different documents. The V11 is a tax reminder that prompts you to renew or SORN. The V5C is your logbook, which records the registered keeper of the car. GOV.UK’s service for the vehicle log book (V5C) confirms it names the registered keeper, and only that keeper can manage the vehicle’s records.

    Keep both somewhere safe. You will need the V5C when you come to sell, while the V11 simply nudges you at renewal time. Confusing the two is common, but only the V5C proves who is responsible for the car.

    Do electric cars get a V11?

    Yes, electric cars registered from 1 April 2025 now pay road tax, so their keepers now receive V11 reminders, unless they pay by Direct Debit. GOV.UK’s vehicle tax rates set a £10 first-year rate for new electric cars, then a £200 standard annual rate from the second year. For the wider picture, read our guide to the road tax rules for electric cars.

    Do you get a V11 if you pay by Direct Debit?

    If your road tax renews automatically when you pay by Direct Debit, the DVLA does not send a V11. Instead, GOV.UK confirms it sends an email or letter telling you when your next payment will be taken. This keeps your car taxed without you needing to act each year.

    Picking a date to SORN your vehicle

    When your SORN starts depends on when you apply, not which document you use. According to SORN start dates on GOV.UK, your SORN starts immediately if your tax has already expired, or if you are not applying in the month your tax is due to expire. If you do apply in the month your tax runs out, the SORN starts on the first day of the next month.

    You can apply online with the 11 digit number in your V5C or the 16 digit number on your V11 reminder. Applying by post lets you start it this month, next month, or the month after, which helps if you are timing a sale.

    Can I tax my car in advance?

    You do not have to wait until your tax is about to run out. Renewing in good time keeps your car legal and avoids any gap between renewals. If you take the car off the road instead, you can get a road tax refund for any full months left on your tax.

    What happens if my V11 is lost in the post?

    Lost your V11? It is not an excuse to drive untaxed, and you can still renew without it. Order a replacement or use another document, then renew as normal.

    Once your tax has expired, you must renew it straight away, or you risk the penalties covered below. If you will not use the vehicle on the road, tell the DVLA and apply for a SORN before your tax expires.

    What happens if you ignore a V11 or drive untaxed?

    Ignoring a V11 does not pause your responsibility to tax the car. According to GOV.UK, the DVLA issues an automatic £80 late licensing penalty, reduced to £40 if you pay within 33 days. The penalty is separate from any tax you still owe.

    If a case reaches court, the fine is higher. For keeping or using an untaxed vehicle without a SORN, it is £1,000 or five times the tax owed, whichever is greater. You can read GOV.UK’s enforcement rules in full, and our guide to car tax fines and penalties explains your options.

    Ready to sell?

    Need to sell your car, or want to understand more about documentation or maintenance? Check out more of our guides here, covering everything from the paperwork you need when buying and selling, to various notices you may need to file with the UK’s driver and vehicle licensing agency. 

    The information provided on this page is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.