Applying for a refund of vehicle tax

You can apply for a refund of vehicle tax if you are the current registered keeper or were the last registered keeper of your vehicle. You'll also need to tell the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) why the vehicle no longer needs the tax disc.

When to apply for a refund

You need to post your refund application before the first day of the month that you are claiming the refund. You also need to tell DVA why you are applying for a refund. This may be because the vehicle has been:

sold
transferred
scrapped
exported
stolen
retaxed in a nil value tax class - like the disabled tax class
taken off the road - SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) in place with DVA

Your application will be rejected if you don't give these details and a rejection letter sent to you. The name on the refund application should also match exactly what’s on your vehicle registration certificate (V5C(NI)).

If you haven’t already told DVA about any of the notices mentioned you can send one with your refund application.

Do not apply for a refund if your vehicle is in the process of having its registration number transferred. The tax disc will be dealt with at the time of the transfer application.

If your vehicle is being transferred from Northern Ireland (NI) to Great Britain (GB) or GB to NI, you do not need to apply for a refund. The tax disc is still valid.

How to apply for a refund

The rules surrounding who can claim a refund of vehicle tax have changed. Refunds will only be paid to the registered keeper or last registered keeper (the keeper must have had a registration certificate in their name). In addition the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) must have been told why the vehicle no longer requires a tax disc. This may be because it has been sold, scrapped, exported, stolen, the vehicle has been taxed in a nil value tax class (such as disabled) or a statutory off road notification (SORN) has been made.

For more information on this visit rules for vehicle tax refunds

Rules for vehicle tax refunds

Application with a tax disc

Fill in a V14(NI) ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when you have the tax disc’. Send the form and the tax disc to Refund Section, DVA, Coleraine BT51 3TA.

The form can be downloaded or is also available from a tax issuing Post Office®.

Application without a tax disc

Fill in a V33(NI) ‘Application for a refund of vehicle tax when the tax disc is missing’. Send the form to Refund Section, DVA, Coleraine BT51 3TA.

The V33(NI) form is only available at a DVA local office or by phoning DVA on 0845 402 4000.

Find your nearest DVA local office

If the tax disc is found after a refund has been paid, you must return the disc with a covering letter to DVA.

Your vehicle has been stolen

When you tell the police of the theft you’ll need to get a crime reference number. You’ll need to provide details of the theft and crime reference number given by the police on the V33(NI) form.

As many vehicles are recovered within a few days of theft you should wait at least seven days before applying for a refund. Applying earlier than the seven days may cause your application to be returned to you.

If the vehicle has been recovered and you still want to apply for a refund you must tell DVA what has happened to the vehicle since its recovery.

What to do if your vehicle is stolen

Making a SORN or other notification to DVA

You can make a SORN on the V14(NI) form at the same time as applying for a refund, if you're keeping the vehicle and taking it off the road.

You can also send to DVA notice of sale or transfer of your vehicle, or notice of the vehicle being exported, with your refund application.

An acknowledgement letter should be sent to you within four weeks and it’s sent separately to the refund. If you don’t receive the letter, please contact DVA on 0845 402 4000

The amount you’ll be refunded

A refund is paid for each full month left to run on the tax disc at the time you apply. For example, if your tax disc expires at the end of September and you apply during July you'll receive a refund for two months – August and September.

If you have a six-month tax disc you paid an extra ten per cent handling charge when you bought it. This is not included as part of your refund.

If you don’t have a tax disc to send back, an administration fee of £7 will be taken away from the amount refunded to you. The refund will be made payable to the person named on the application form. The name should match exactly what’s on the vehicle registration certificate.

A refund cannot be backdated. It can only be paid from the date your refund application was sent, or from when DVA were told why you no longer need the tax disc (whichever is later).

First year rates

If you paid a higher 'first year rate' for a newly registered vehicle's first tax disc, you will only get a refund based on the higher rate if the vehicle has been stolen, scrapped or the vehicle's tax class has changed to a nil value tax class such as 'disabled'.

If the vehicle has been sold, exported or you have made a SORN, your refund will be based on the lower standard rate of vehicle tax applicable to that vehicle.

First year rates

When to expect your refund

Refunds may take up to six weeks to process. You need to allow the six weeks for a refund to get to you before making enquiries with DVA. If you haven’t had a response to your application after this time please contact DVA on 0845 402 4000