The V11 Reminder: What You Need to Know

There are many important documents that drivers need to be aware of in order to keep their car and stay within the law. It can be difficult to keep them all in mind, so in this blog post we’re going to jog your memory about the V11 reminder and what it entails. 

Whether you’ve just received a V11 reminder or want to anticipate its arrival in the mail, we’ve got you covered. We’ll be covering some burning questions, such as: 

• What is a V11 reminder?
• When do you receive a V11?
• How to pay road tax or declare SORN with a V11
• When can I renew my road tax?

What is a V11 reminder?

A V11 is a letter sent by the DVLA to remind car owners that their road tax is due. It includes the car owner's name and address, vehicle registration, and the expiry date of their road tax. The V11 reminder includes three sections, where you can inform the DVLA of your decision about your car tax, and options to tax your car by phone, online, or at a post office.

A V11 reminder is a letter sent from the DVLA to let drivers pay road tax or SORN their car. 

It is laid out in three different sections with different information in each: 

1. Top section - Car owner’s name and address, vehicle’s registration, and road tax expiry date. 
2. Middle section - Where you can inform the DVLA whether you will pay road tax or SORN your car, or whether it has been sold. 
3. Bottom section - Options of how to tax your car (via phone, online, post office) 

Wait, what is a SORN? 

SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) is the official way to declare your car as off-road and no longer being driven on public roads. This means you can stop paying road tax on it but it also means that it has to be stored away from the road. You would SORN your car for several reasons, including: 

• If your car isn’t insured or taxed
• You have a new car that you don’t plan to use yet
• You can’t afford to pay road tax
• Your car won’t be used for a while 

When Do You Receive a V11?

You’ll typically receive a V11 reminder about a month before your road tax renewal is due, so double check when your road tax is due so you can anticipate the V11’s arrival through your letterbox.

It’s worth mentioning that, in an ideal world, you’ll have paid your road tax before the V11 reminder is sent to you. The V11 should be seen as a final reminder to tax your car because not receiving it isn’t an excuse for not paying your road tax. 

How to Pay Road Tax or Declare SORN with a V11

To pay road tax or declare SORN using the V11 reminder, you can visit the Gov.uk website here or call them on 0300 123 4321 and input the 16-digit reference number found at the top of the V11 reminder. 

When can I renew my road tax? 

You can pay your car's annual road tax up to two months before it is due. If you have months left on your vehicle tax, you will receive a road tax refund.

It's important to stay on top of your dates and know when your tax renewal is due to avoid fines.

Make selling your car hassle-free

The V11 reminder is an important document for car owners. If your V11 document has reminded you that the car you need to tax just isn’t up to scratch anymore, why not sell it? Sell 2 Swansway provides an easy-to-use car valuation tool and a hassle-free selling experience. Enter your reg and mileage here for a FREE, fair, competitive quote on your car.

And check out more of our guides for everything you need to know about buying, selling, and maintaining your car.