The UK household renewal calendar
A month-by-month map of the renewals a typical UK family juggles — MOT, tax, insurance, passports and bills — so nothing sneaks up on you.
On this page
You don’t need to memorise every date — you need them all in one place, with a nudge before each one. Here’s the shape of a typical UK household’s year.
The renewal year at a glance
| Renewal | Typical cycle | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Car insurance | Annual | Renewal notice; compare before it auto-renews |
| MOT | Annual | Test up to a month early, keep the date |
| Road tax (VED) | 6 or 12 months | Can’t tax without a valid MOT |
| Home insurance | Annual | Same loyalty-penalty checks as motor |
| Energy tariff | Often 12 months | Fixed deal ending → standing charge / SVR |
| Broadband | 12–24 months | Out-of-contract price hikes |
| Council tax | Annual (spring) | Discounts you may be owed |
| TV Licence | Annual | Only if you watch/record live TV or use iPlayer |
| Mortgage deal | 2–5 years | Remortgage 3–6 months before it ends |
| Passport | 10 yrs adult / 5 yrs child | Renew before travel; allow spare validity |
The predictable clusters
- Spring (April): the tax year starts (6 April) and council tax bills arrive for the year ahead.
- Early summer: passport demand peaks before the holidays — renew well ahead.
- Each policy’s anniversary: insurance, energy and broadband renew on their own dates, scattered across the year.
Turn the calendar into reminders
A list only helps if something reminds you before each date. That’s the whole idea behind DueOwl: put every renewal in once, share it with your partner, and get nudged in good time — so the calendar runs itself.
In short
Most UK renewals are annual and cluster around the April tax year, summer travel and each policy’s anniversary. Keep every date, provider and cost in one place, set reminders ahead of time, and nothing sneaks up on you.
Frequently asked questions
Are most renewals annual?
Yes — car insurance, home insurance, MOT, road tax, the TV Licence and most energy and broadband deals run in yearly cycles, though some contracts (like broadband or mobile) can be 18–24 months. Passports are the big exception at 10 years (adult) and 5 (child).
When does the UK tax year start?
The UK tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Council tax bills also typically arrive in spring for the year ahead.
What’s the easiest way to keep track?
Put every renewal date, provider and cost in one place and set reminders a few weeks ahead. That’s exactly what the DueOwl app is built to do.
Sources & last checked
- Vehicle tax, MOT and insurance — GOV.UK
- Renew or replace your adult passport — GOV.UK
- Council Tax — GOV.UK
Last checked against official sources: 9 July 2026.