This is a real numpty question but I've never done it before....

I've just bought a runabout Escort Estate which was SORNed and I now need to tax it. Can this be done at the local Post Office now or do I need to go to a DVLA office? Do I need insurance docs before I can tax it?

You will need to produce insurance certificate where ever you tax it.

You'll need insuranc docs but if you can wait a cuple of days once insured you can do it all on line assuming its mot'd.it takes a couple of days for the system to registor your insured

As above, just produce the MOT and Insurance and the act of taxing it automatically ends the SORN and last time i did it was at the local post office.

Aha, online sounds good - can't be arsed to queue with all the pensioners who buy one stamp and a leccy meter card.

Cheers guys

DONT do what i did and think that the same rules apply as for tax renewal. If you tax you car ANYTIME in the month it will be valid from the beginning of that month. Not from the beginning of the next month if you buy after the 15th

Look carefully befor you tax the car online.

If my memory is right. You need to be the registered keeper to tax the car online. The V5 will need to be in your name, if not your tax disc is will only be sent to the registered keeper.

Ronnie

wot xjs said. if car ius currently tax, you can apply one month(?) in advance on line but 3 days in advance at post office; otherwise it is back dated so you lose a month, or 15/31th month if you were to do it toady