What payment do I send with V55/5?
Reviewed 2026-07-10
Short answer
Send the appropriate vehicle tax and registration fee. V355/5 says payment can be by cheque or postal order payable to DVLA, and not to send cash.
Official position
GOV.UK says you need to pay a registration fee and tax the vehicle when registering an import. V355/5 says to include the appropriate payment for vehicle tax and registration fee, and that payments can be made by cheque or postal order payable to DVLA. Damaged or altered cheques will be rejected and returned.
What to do
Work out the correct tax class, tax period and tax start date first.
Add the first registration fee unless your vehicle is exempt.
Use cheque or postal order payable to DVLA and do not send cash.
Avoid altered or damaged cheques because V355/5 says those applications will be rejected and returned.
Common mistakes
- Sending the registration fee but no first tax payment.
- Sending cash.
- Using a payment amount that conflicts with boxes 2, 3, 4 or 30.
Related help
Official sources
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