Vehicle tax is due to expire while you're abroad

If you’re going to be abroad when your vehicle tax expires, you can tax in advance or get someone to tax your vehicle for you. You can arrange to get the tax disc sent to an address abroad.

Tax in advance

You can renew your tax up to six weeks in advance in person at a Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) local office or by post to:

DVA
Coleraine
BT51 3TA

Take or send:

Registration Certificate
completed V10(NI) 'Vehicle licence application' form
insurance certificate or cover note - it must be valid when the tax disc comes into force
valid MOT certificate - if the car or motorcycle is over four years old, it must be valid when the tax disc comes into force
the payment for vehicle tax
a letter to explain why you’re taxing in advance if you’re making a postal application
Taxing in the disabled tax class

Change of name and address

Write the new details or correction in section six of your Registration Certificate.

If you don't have a registration certificate

Provided you’re the registered keeper of the vehicle, fill in a V34(NI) 'Application for a Vehicle Registration Certificate' V5C(NI) which must be accompanied by £25 (fee for a duplicate Registration Certificate). Include this with your tax application. You can apply at your nearest DVA local office or by post to:

DVA
Coleraine
BT51 3TA

Send a tax disc to an address abroad

Supply the address in a covering letter and include this with your tax application. Your Northern Ireland (NI) address must be written on the V10(NI) 'Vehicle licence application'.

Find your nearest DVA local Office

Application forms V10(NI) and V34(NI)

You can download the V10(NI) or V34(NI) or collect them from selected Post Office® branches or a DVA local office.

Get someone to tax your vehicle for you

Ask a friend or relative to tax your vehicle using the V11(NI) reminder or V10(NI) 'Vehicle licence application' with your Registration Certificate. They can put the tax disc on your vehicle or post it to you.

Using your vehicle when you return from abroad

When you return from abroad, you must have a tax disc to be able to drive your vehicle home or you’ll be committing an offence. There are no concessions.

Vehicle kept off the road

If your vehicle is being kept off the road in NI while you’re abroad and you don’t renew your tax, you must tell DVA by making a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification). You can do this up to two months before the tax disc or SORN expires.