Hi there

I just moved in the UK, this forum has been a lot of help since I bought my ŠKODA Octavia estate mkr3 last October 2024.

When I bought it the guy said that the car was an ex ministry of defence vehicle, I didn’t know that the road tax would be so high £360 pa because it is registered as PLG(private light goods). I made some research and found out other ŠKODA estates are ONLY paying £20 pa, same year, same model etc.

I was searching if I could possibly change tax class from PLG to normal diesel class. Has anyone in the uk encountered with such a situation like this ? If so, please your help will be much appreciated.

 

Thanks, Andrew 

What is the co2 figure on the v5 registration document?

 

On a V5 diesel is a fuel type not a taxation class.

 

 

On the v5 I have  private light goods listed as a  taxation class, and I am guessing that switching the class will effect my road tax. I’m not sure what other estate cars will be listed as, just private or diesel car as taxation class maybe ? 
According to this table my emissions will fall under tax band B which is £20 , and I saw other ŠKODA Octavia estate for sale with only £20 road tax but my car for some reason is under tax class PLG On my v5 where I have CO2 (g/km) is just empty but I did my research and I’m sure my emissions are in tax band B, it’s a 1.6 TDI CLHA engine 2014 . 

£360 is not expensive? I pay around that 

If your car was registered  with the DVLA between 2001 and 2017 it's taxation rate was set by the CO2 declared by the manufacturer on the certificate of conformity.

 

If your V5 says 0g/km it suggests the MoD did not submit that document when registering, so it will have been rated as a pre-2001 PLG above or below 1599cc.

 

I think you are stuck with that, i don't think it can be changed now.

Edited 12 February, 20251 yr by Stonekeeper

6 hours ago, thatguy said:

£360 is not expensive? I pay around that 

I taught it is when I found out that some cars only pay £20 a year . I only just moved to the UK so I just trying to find out things 

1 hour ago, Stonekeeper said:

If your car was registered  with the DVLA between 2001 and 2017 it's taxation rate was set by the CO2 declared by the manufacturer on the certificate of conformity.

 

If your V5 says 0g/km it suggests the MoD did not submit that document when registering, so it will have been rated as a pre-2001 PLG above or below 1599cc.

 

I think you are stuck with that, i don't think it can be changed now.

 

 

I was thinking that it was registered as a PLG because it was an ex ministry of defence vehicle and that can be changed , I would really like to see other people’s v5’s with same car and model if it’s the same so I can rest my mind . Thanks for your help anyway!

@Andrew2024

I had to re-read several times before seeing what car / engine it was you were asking about?

A mod can maybe move your thread. 

3 hours ago, Andrew2024 said:

 

 

I was thinking that it was registered as a PLG because it was an ex ministry of defence vehicle and that can be changed , I would really like to see other people’s v5’s with same car and model if it’s the same so I can rest my mind . Thanks for your help anyway!

 

 

Other peoples cars with the details will be irrelevant to you, apart from knowing it could have been cheaper.

 

When a car was registered between 2001 and 2017 co2 was used.

 

Cars have a coc which declares it's Co2 emissions and is specific to that car at the time.

 

MOD and cars bought buy staff abroad etc would need to be registered when they either lose their MOD registration or staff bring them home.

 

In the absence of the correct certificate upon registering the car would be deemed PLG and rates prior to 2001 will be used  which was how they used to be classed. We haven't used PLG since 2001 which just meant it was a private vehicle weighing less than 3500kg

i have the 1968cc vRS TDI and i pay £30.  im running a stage 3 tune with larger turbo etc @ 310bhp, a whole lot of fun for £30 tax  

you need to take the PLG off the reg book as its taxed accordingly.

1 hour ago, JohnnyType2 said:

i have the 1968cc vRS TDI and i pay £30.  im running a stage 3 tune with larger turbo etc @ 310bhp, a whole lot of fun for £30 tax  

you need to take the PLG off the reg book as its taxed accordingly.

Have you taken the DPF off your reg book? 😂

Edited 12 February, 20251 yr by Mossy46

33 minutes ago, Mossy46 said:

Have you taken the DPF off your reg book? 😂

 

@Stonekeeper

Am I correct (or not)  in thinking that maybe the MOD do not have to pay road tax, and maybe this their reason for not registering it as such??? 

29 minutes ago, Tilt said:

@Stonekeeper

Am I correct (or not)  in thinking that maybe the MOD do not have to pay road tax, and maybe this their reason for not registering it as such??? 

 

I believe MOD vehicles are registered in a different system. Not sure DVLA are even involved?

3 hours ago, JohnnyType2 said:

i have the 1968cc vRS TDI and i pay £30.  im running a stage 3 tune with larger turbo etc @ 310bhp, a whole lot of fun for £30 tax  

you need to take the PLG off the reg book as its taxed accordingly.

I’m jealous 😅. What year is it and what tax class is it registered? On my v5 I have exempt written for type of approval, I’m guessing it’s because it’s more than 10 years old ? 

Similar query here

 

Same answer

 

Cannot be changed?

 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6361144/i-bought-an-ex-mod-car-paying-so-much-road-tax-why

1 hour ago, Stonekeeper said:

 

I believe MOD vehicles are registered in a different system. Not sure DVLA are even involved?

 

Maybe a sensible idea for the Op @Andrew2024 to contact the DVLA if he hasn't already.

 

Not read all of the link above yet but this may help - but replace Toyota with Skoda 

You need to get the certificate from Toyota GB for your exact car, and submit that to DVLA to get the CO2 corrected.

Edited 12 February, 20251 yr by Tilt

10 minutes ago, Tilt said:

 

Maybe a sensible idea for the Op @Andrew2024 to contact the DVLA if he hasn't already.

 

Not read all of the link above yet but this may help - but replace Toyota with Skoda 

You need to get the certificate from Toyota GB for your exact car, and submit that to DVLA to get the CO2 corrected.

 

In the mse thread the person paid for a coc from the manufacturer and say they got a refund of that cost (from the dvla) when the dvla wouldn't accept it retrospectively

 

 

The vehicle needs to have a coc with the emissions figure from a wltp test.

 

wltp testing was not done until 2018?

@Stonekeeper Just reading it now bud as there's nowt on t telly, Lol 

16 hours ago, Stonekeeper said:

Similar query here

 

Same answer

 

Cannot be changed?

 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6361144/i-bought-an-ex-mod-car-paying-so-much-road-tax-why

I contacted the DVLA and they said it cannot be changed because that’s how it was registered with the DVLA , they are not helpful. I also have certificate of conformity from ŠKODA to prove the emissions, cc and all the data required to qualify for tax band B , it cannot be changed that’s what the guy said at DVLA , so annoying . I’m sure there another way around it !

Hi @Andrew2024.

It might be worth looking into what the rules are, rather than allow yourself to be discouraged by a "Computer says 'No!' " NPC.

Off the top of my head (so it might be unhelpful) have a look at kit-car registration to see if there's some cunning workaround.

If that doesn't work, then leaning into the PLG registration might be an option. 

It's officially a PLG, so are there any tax/insurance advantages to this? Can you buy your diesel at commercial rates?

If you can't undo it, perhaps you can take advantage of it. 👍

1 hour ago, EnterName said:

Hi @Andrew2024.

It might be worth looking into what the rules are, rather than allow yourself to be discouraged by a "Computer says 'No!' " NPC.

Off the top of my head (so it might be unhelpful) have a look at kit-car registration to see if there's some cunning workaround.

If that doesn't work, then leaning into the PLG registration might be an option. 

It's officially a PLG, so are there any tax/insurance advantages to this? Can you buy your diesel at commercial rates?

If you can't undo it, perhaps you can take advantage of it. 👍

Hi @EnterName

That’s what I was thinking, there must be a way around it. I was looking at kit-car registration maybe if I modify it and re-register it with DVLA will actually work . It’s a long process and cost effective I would have to see if it’s worth doing. 
Thanks for the idea and I like the way of being positive about the situation. I will let you guys know how I did !

On 12/02/2025 at 08:10, Ootohere said:

@Andrew2024

I had to re-read several times before seeing what car / engine it was you were asking about?

A mod can maybe move your thread. 

What kind of mod do you mean ? 

@Andrew2024 I meant a moderator on this forum. but they have decided to leave it in this section it seems. 

@Andrew2024 Were you made aware of the road tax situation when you purchased the car ????

 

Was the car taxed by the seller, on your behalf ????

 

If you weren't made aware of the cost of the road tax, well, if it were me I would be fuming and take it up with the seller.......

 

By the sounds of it, it is going to cost you around a grand extra every three years so even if the car was a bargain ........... sorry, not trying to upset you.

 

Yes, I'd be fuming.

 

Good luck man, hope you can sort something.