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How to pay your car tax with an American Express card

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Reader Dan dropped me a note to say that he had just renewed his car tax, and was pleasantly surprised to see that the DVLA website is now accepting American Express for payment. This is quite rare for a Government department.

I had a dig around, and it seems that this has been possible for at least six months.  However, as you only renew your tax once a year you might not have come across it yet.

There is a £2.50 fee for paying by Amex.  If you have a low-emission car then you might find that the £2.50 fee is not worth it, unless you have a spend target to meet on a new American Express card.  Once you get into the £200 range, though, it is tempting to pay the fee – especially with a BA Premium Plus Amex, at 1.5 Avios per £1.

You may also want to think about timing your next Amex card application to fit in with your next car tax payment.  After all, a £200 charge makes a big dint in the minimum spend required to hit a sign-up bonus.  As a reminder, the spend targets on the main Amex-issued cards are:

Amex Preferred Rewards Gold – £2,000 spend in 3 months, current bonus 20,000 Amex points (=20,000 Avios) – My Review

Amex Platinum – £2,000 spend in 3 months, current bonus 30,000 Amex points (=30,000 Avios) – My Review

BA Amex – £500 spend in 3 months, current bonus 3,000 Avios points – My Review

BA Premium Plus Amex – £3,000 spend in 3 months, current bonus 18,000 Avios points – My Review

Starwood Preferred Guest Amex – £1,000 spend in 3 months, current bonus 10,000 SPG points (=10,000 Avios) – My Review

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You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

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American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

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The Platinum Card from American Express

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Category

American Express Gold card, American Express Platinum card, British Airways American Express, Marriott Bonvoy American Express

Comments (33)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Polly says:
    22 Oct22 October 07:18

    Out of interest where is the option? I just taxed our two cars, but it wasn’t offered on the screen, last week! Good spot though for the future….

  • Volker says:
    22 Oct22 October 07:32

    “I had a dig around, and it seems that this has been possible for at least six months.”

    Really? Never noticed when I paid the road tax bill in August, and I usually check all payment options pretty thoroughly.

    • Polly says:
      22 Oct22 October 07:37

      I agree, not obvious at all, I always look for an amex payment option first off, that’s why I would be curious to see where it’s offered as an option. It did not show on the cards options. Where did you see it Raffles?

  • Dominic says:
    22 Oct22 October 08:56

    On a related note – can one use 3v cards for Car Tax?

    • Rob says:
      22 Oct22 October 09:39

      Presumably OK at a Post Office, not sure if the website can handle multiple cards though

      • Dominic says:
        22 Oct22 October 10:02

        Am I being dim…? How do you use 3v cards in person? I thought they were only for virtual transactions….?

  • James says:
    22 Oct22 October 09:07

    How timely, I’m paying my car tax today and I’m looking to reach the £2000 spend on the Amex Gold over the next 2 months. Thanks!

  • Dominic says:
    22 Oct22 October 11:32

    This is bizarre. I’ve just tried to tax my car, and there is no sign of Amex being accepted on the payment page – and when I tried to put in my Amex details, it didn’t take a four digit CVC code, and would not accept the payment….

  • David Fegan says:
    22 Oct22 October 11:54

    I called the DVLA in June about this issue and they were surprised that their website sttetd that AMEX was a form of payment as it isn’t. At which point i put forward a suggestion that they update their website, seems to no avail.

    • Volker says:
      22 Oct22 October 12:24

      It’s getting interesting now – see the first three comments. David, had you spotted the alleged payment option AMEX on the DVLA’s FAQ page?

      • Rob says:
        22 Oct22 October 12:44

        Well, this will be a fun day if it turns out that it isn’t possible despite the fat Amex logo ….!

  • Rob says:
    22 Oct22 October 14:01

    Let’s try to get some clarity into this.

    Here is a comment that a poster made on Head for Points back in MAY:

    “I just renewed my tax disc £225. I have always paid for it with a debit card. I did not know that DVLA took Amex. They charge a flat fee of £2.50 for all credit cards. So £2.50 bought me 455 Avios (Diamond Club Amex). 0.54p each.”

    So it clearly DOES work.

    Regarding 3V cards and DVLA, this was posted also back in May:

    “Another data point – 3V accepted without a problem by the DVLA for renewing a tax disc. Handy as they charge £2.50 for using a credit card!”

  • Dominic says:
    22 Oct22 October 14:12

    But, sadly, I don’t think there is clarity in the reality, despite the posting above. I’ve just been on to the DVLA site again. a) there is no mention of Amex and it won’t take my Amex number, and b) I cannot see how to use 3v (which I tried), as it wants the whole sum paid at once.

    I am utterly mystified. I think some posters must be in a parallel universe….?!?!?

    • Rob says:
      22 Oct22 October 14:24

      And this is what Dan wrote to me earlier this week:

      ‘Quick heads up DVLA.gov.uk now take amex for car tax. With a £2.50 admin charge. I’ve just taxed my other half’s car (at £200 road tax for the year.) ‘

      I’ve dropped him an email for clarity!

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