How to Apply for Disabled Car Tax: Full Exemption or 50% Off

To apply for disabled car tax, gather proof of your qualifying mobility benefit, your V5C logbook, and evidence of a valid MOT, then take everything to a Post Office that handles vehicle tax (for the full exemption) or post it to the DVLA in Swansea (for the 50% reduction). The first application cannot be done online. Once the disabled tax class is on your vehicle’s record, future renewals are far simpler.

Check Which Rate You Qualify For

The exemption comes in two forms, and the benefit you receive decides which one you get.

You qualify for free vehicle tax if you receive any of the following at the higher or enhanced rate:

Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)
War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
Child Disability Payment (CDP) at the higher rate mobility component (Scotland)
Adult Disability Payment (ADP) at the enhanced rate mobility component (Scotland)
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA) at the higher rate mobility component (Scotland)

You also qualify if you received an NHS grant toward the vehicle itself under the National Health Service Act 2006 or its equivalents in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.¹

You qualify for a 50% reduction if you receive the standard rate mobility component of PIP or ADP. The lower rate mobility component of DLA does not qualify for any reduction.²

Only one vehicle at a time can hold the exemption or reduction, and it must be registered in the disabled person’s name (or a nominated driver’s name) and used for the disabled person’s needs.¹

Documents to Gather

Every first application needs proof of your benefit, proof of the vehicle, and evidence of a valid MOT. What counts as proof of benefit differs by track.

Proof of Your Benefit

For the full exemption, bring your Certificate of Entitlement. This is your benefit award letter from DWP (PIP or DLA), Veterans UK (War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or AFIP), or Social Security Scotland (ADP, CDP, or SADLA), showing which benefit you receive, the rate, and the dates of your award. Send the original, not a photocopy.³

For the 50% reduction, send a letter or statement from DWP showing your PIP rate and dates, or an ADP decision letter from Social Security Scotland. Do not include your PIP assessment or any other medical information.²

Vehicle Documents

You need the V5C registration certificate (the logbook) showing the vehicle in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name. If it’s registered to someone else, include a signed letter from the registered keeper explaining how they know you and how the vehicle will be used.²

If you’ve just bought the car and it isn’t yet registered to you, fill in a V62 form (available at the Post Office or on GOV.UK) and include the green “new keeper” slip from the logbook.⁴

MOT and Insurance

The vehicle needs a valid MOT before you can apply. You can supply your MOT certificate or a printout of the MOT history from GOV.UK. If you live in Northern Ireland, also include an insurance certificate or cover note.

The Application Form

If you haven’t received a V11 vehicle tax reminder letter, fill in a V10 application form, available on GOV.UK or at the Post Office. If you do have a V11, you can use that instead.⁵

Applying for the First Time

The first application cannot be made online for either track.

Full Exemption

Take your documents to a Post Office branch that handles vehicle tax. Not every branch offers the service, so check before you go. The clerk will verify your Certificate of Entitlement and V5C and update the vehicle’s tax class to “disabled” on the spot.⁴

If you can’t get to a Post Office, post everything to:

DVLA
Swansea
SA99 1BF

50% Reduction

The reduction cannot be set up at the Post Office. Post your documents to the DVLA Swansea address above, along with a cheque or payable order made out to “DVLA, Swansea” for half of the full vehicle tax rate. You can look up your vehicle’s full rate on GOV.UK before applying.²

Renewing After the First Year

Once the disabled tax class is on your vehicle record, you can renew online at www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax or by phone on 0300 123 4321. The system checks your MOT and insurance automatically. AFIP recipients cannot use the online or phone service and must renew at the Post Office or by post.³

You’ll need to go back to the Post Office (or post again) any time you change vehicles, because the new vehicle’s tax class has to be updated.

Refunds on Tax You’ve Already Paid

If you’ve already paid vehicle tax before your exemption comes through, no separate refund claim is needed. When the DVLA processes your application, it automatically refunds any full remaining months of tax you’ve paid, sent to the address it has on file. Partial months aren’t refunded.⁶ Check that the DVLA has your current address.

If Your Benefit Stops or Changes

The exemption is tied to your qualifying benefit. If the benefit is stopped, reduced below the qualifying rate, or reassessed to a lower level, you lose the exemption and must tax the vehicle at the standard rate. Notify the DVLA promptly; driving without valid tax is a separate offence and can lead to fines, clamping, or impounding.

One exception: if your benefit is temporarily suspended because you’re receiving in-patient hospital treatment, the Act treats you as though you’re still receiving it for vehicle tax purposes.¹

If You Have a Motability Vehicle

If you lease through the Motability Scheme, vehicle tax is handled for you as part of the lease and you don’t need to apply.⁷ If you also own a private vehicle, only one can hold the exemption at a time; call Motability on 0300 456 4566 to discuss swapping which vehicle carries the exempt class.

1
Legislation.gov.uk. Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 – Schedule 2
2
GOV.UK. Financial Help if You’re Disabled – Vehicles and Transport
3
GOV.UK. How to Apply for Free Disabled Tax (INS216)
4
GOV.UK. Change Your Vehicle’s Tax Class – Tax Is Due to Run Out or Changing if Vehicle Is Exempt
5
GOV.UK. Apply for Vehicle Tax (Form V10)
6
GOV.UK. Get Free Vehicle Tax if You’re a Driver With a Disability
7
Motability Scheme. Do You Need to Pay Car Tax?