How do I get a vehicle tax refund after selling my car?

GOV.UK says DVLA cancels the tax after it receives the keeper-change notification. If you paid by Direct Debit, the payment arrangement is cancelled automatically.

The refund covers full remaining months only and is sent to the name and address held on the V5C, so incorrect keeper details can cause problems.

Do not rely on the buyer to notify DVLA for you. The seller should complete the official notification and keep confirmation.

For 'How do I get a vehicle tax refund after selling my car?', keep the DVLA confirmation or reference number once the transaction is completed. Tax, SORN and keeper records are separate, so a dated confirmation helps show exactly when your responsibility changed.

Check the current source for 'How do I get a vehicle tax refund after selling my car?' before acting if the relevant rule, policy, fee or eligibility has recently changed. Keep any official confirmation or reference number produced by the process because it can help resolve a later query. This note is specific to answer 431.