V55/4: Application for first vehicle tax and registration of a new motor vehicle
Form V55/4 registers a new motor vehicle with DVLA for the first time and applies for its first vehicle tax at the same time.
This is the genuine DVLA PDF, unmodified. Source: DVLA official page.
What is V55/4?
Gov.uk is specific about which of the two V55 forms to use: fill in the V55/4 to register a new vehicle, including new imported vehicles and newly built kit cars. Anything that has already been used, or previously registered anywhere, goes on the V55/5 instead. Getting this wrong is the most common reason a first registration comes back.
The form collects the vehicle description, the chassis or VIN, the type approval details, CO2 and fuel data used to work out the tax band, the keeper and the tax class being applied for. DVLA publishes a companion guide, V355/4, which explains how to fill in every box, and it is worth reading before you start because much of the detail comes off the certificate of conformity rather than out of your head.
Who files V55/4?
- Motor dealers and manufacturers registering new vehicles on a customer's behalf
- People who have imported a brand new vehicle into the UK themselves
- Builders registering a newly constructed kit car for the first time
- Anyone buying a new vehicle from a source that will not register it for them
How to fill out V55/4
- Download the V55/4 together with the V355/4 guide, which explains each numbered box.
- Copy the vehicle description, VIN, type approval number and emissions figures from the certificate of conformity.
- Complete the keeper details and choose the tax class you are applying for.
- Work out the first vehicle tax due and gather the supporting evidence, including insurance and type approval documents.
- Send the completed form with the fee and evidence to DVLA, Swansea, at the address given in the V355/4 guidance.
Get V55/4
DVLA publishes V55/4 as a flat PDF with no built-in form fields, so there is no quick-fill form here. Open it in the editor to type directly onto the pages, tick boxes and sign, or download the official blank and complete it in your PDF reader or by hand.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to do this myself when I buy a new car?
Usually not. Gov.uk says that if you buy a brand new vehicle, the dealer will normally arrange for it to be registered. You only need to register it yourself if nobody else is doing it for you.
My vehicle is imported. Is it new or used?
A new import goes on V55/4. A used import, or a vehicle brought back to the UK after being exported, goes on V55/5. Mileage and prior registration abroad are what decide it.
Where do I find the emissions and type approval figures?
They come from the certificate of conformity or the individual approval documentation supplied with the vehicle. The V355/4 guide tells you which document each box is drawn from.