Tax Your Vehicle With No Logbook
What Documents Do You Need to Tax a Car?
For most online vehicle-tax applications, the key item is one accepted DVLA reference: a recent reminder or warning letter, a V5C in your name, or a green new keeper slip.
Identify which reference applies to you rather than gathering every document you own.
Start with the official guidance
Use the source that matches your documents and circumstances before you make a payment or send personal details.
Best next pages
Choose the next step that matches what is holding you up.
The reference needed for the online route
Keep the reference number private and use the official GOV.UK service when ready. A registration number is useful for public vehicle information but is not sufficient on its own for the standard online route.
Using a V5C or green new keeper slip
The V5C needs to be in your name if you are the current keeper. A recent buyer without a V5C in their name should use the green new keeper slip, not a previous keeper's V5C.
What to take to a Post Office
At a participating Post Office, GOV.UK says to take your V5C in your name or green new keeper slip. Take payment details if paying, or bank details, address and date of birth for Direct Debit. MOT evidence may also be needed.
Extra documents in Northern Ireland
For Post Office vehicle tax in Northern Ireland, GOV.UK lists paper insurance evidence and original MOT evidence, or permitted Temporary Exemption Certificate evidence. This is not a blanket requirement for online applications in Great Britain.
If you do not have an accepted reference
Current keepers should use the replacement V5C guidance. New keepers with no green slip need the V5C and V62 route that applies. Form V62 is print-only and must be posted once completed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers for the practical questions that come up before you decide whether to continue.
Built for quick decisions
Move from uncertainty to action without working through pages of filler.
Do I need an insurance certificate to tax online?
Do not treat a paper insurance certificate as a standard online tax document. Insurance is still a legal requirement before using the vehicle on the road.
Do I always need a paper MOT certificate?
Not for every online route. A Post Office may ask for MOT evidence, and GOV.UK gives a screenshot of MOT history or an MOT certificate as examples.
What extra documents are needed in Northern Ireland?
For Post Office vehicle tax, GOV.UK lists paper insurance evidence and original MOT evidence or permitted TEC evidence.
Sources and checks
This guide was checked against the official sources below on 18 August 2026 by TaxMyMotor Editorial Team. Rules and services can change, so use the official links when you are ready to act.
Choose your next step
Use the official guidance that fits your situation. If you use an independent service, check what it does and what it does not do before paying.
How it works
Start with the official source that matches your documents and circumstances. It is better to pause and use the right route than rush into the wrong one.