I forgot to tax my car — what do I do now?

First, don’t panic — this is fixable, and acting quickly is what limits the damage. Here’s the order to do it in.

Do this now

1. 1
   Tax it online immediatelyGo to GOV.UK and tax the car. You’ll need valid insurance and, if the car needs one, a current MOT.
2. 2
   Sort insurance/MOT if either lapsed tooYou can’t tax without them. If your MOT has also expired, book it — you can drive to a pre-booked test.
3. 3
   Phone the DVLA proactivelyBeing upfront puts you in control. They may charge a small fee, but it helps head off a surprise penalty in the post.

What it can cost

If the car’s actually off the road

If it’s not being used and is kept on private land, you can declare a SORN instead of taxing it — that legally stops the tax requirement.

In short

Tax the car online right away (you’ll need insurance and a valid MOT), fix anything else that lapsed, and consider phoning the DVLA to get ahead of it. Prompt action is what turns a potential fine-and-clamp into a quick fix. Set a reminder so the renewal never sneaks up again.