Car tax.

[dodeer]

I have recently bought a car and it was declared SORN. It has just gone through it's MOT and it is insured. I bought the insurance online on Wednesday night and have not recieved my insurance cert yet. I have now taxed my car on the dvla website and they reckon it will take 5 working days to reach me (the tax disc).

 

Problem is i want to drive tomorrow but want to know if it is legal to drive it without the tax disc on the car eventhough it is taxed and insured.

 

Or should i just wait and take my other car tomorrow.

 

Advice please? :blink:

[Cranfield]

I was always told you had to "display" your tax disc.

If you don't have it, you can't "display" it.

People have even been prosecuted when their tax disc has fallen off the windscreen.

The "Tax in the post" note on the windscreen doesn't work (well, it didn't for a friend of mine :blink: )

 

The DVLA are the best people to ask.

Its possible that you could print something off their website as proof of payment.

[Wookie]

I had the same issue, but the other way round. I couldn't tax mine because I didn't have a cert of insurance at that time, so I could not get tax on-line, even though the database they were using (the DVLA) could see I was insured and the car had passed the MoT.

 

And yes, it is a failure to display valid tax that's an offence...

 

All this IT investment is supposed to make things easier, but it doesn't. I still had to go to a post office in the end. Do you think we should go the way of other countries and make tax part of the cost of fuel? We pay enough as it is and it would mean that the biggest cars/furthest journies paid the most tax...

 

Mind you, I don't think the Gov would agree to it as they would lose too much money.

 

Wookie

[Cranfield]

I had to recently change a personalised number plate over on my Wife's new car and sort out the tax.

The DVLA office in Maidstone was excellent.

Everything was done in one visit and I doubt we were in there longer than 30 minutes and that included the waiting time. :blink:

 

These local offices are the way forward, at least they are immediate, with nothing in the post and no hanging about.

[al4x]

If you have done everything online I think you'll be fine. To do so you need to have the computerised MOT and obviously the system knew you were insured as well.

 

Do a vehicle check here and see if it shows you as taxed

 

http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/

 

if so I'd drive it. The police use the same database so should you be pulled over will be able to verify it there and then.

But if you're worried just phone them and ask

[Pedro]

I'm with al4x, when a PNC check is carried out on your car, it flashes up if it's not taxed. This new system gets updated really quick, so your car will show as being taxed. Any reasonable copper would let this go, especially as it appears this is going to be happening more and more. :blink:

 

P.

[Malc]

Things have changed a little now. Although there is a technical offence of failing to display a valid Vehicle Excise Disc, this is simply a hangover from the days when a traffic warden or police officer had no means of checking if it was "in the post". As tax discs, insurance and MOT certificates are now all recorded on the police national computer as well as DVLA computers, both police and DVLA can check instantly if you are legal and the tax disc is just about pointless. Also, with the introduction of SORN, it is the DVLA computer that automatically detects tax disc offenders who have neither declared SORN or paid for a disc rather than our overworked bobbies or semi extinct traffic wardens. Traditionally, motorists have benefitted from an unofficial 2 week period of grace, but in this case, you are already more than 2 weeks from the beginning of the month.

 

Should you fall foul of the police when driving without a disc, then the matter is passed to DVLA to enforce and the always offer motorists the opportunity to purchase a disc and pay a small penalty charge. In this case, the DVLA records would show that you have paid your duty and no action could be taken by them.

[Malc]

One thing I forgot.......

 

Beware local authority parking wardens!!!!! In some areas local bylaws are in force or decriminalistion has taken place, which means they can issue you a fixed penalty. They do not have ready access to PNC or DVLA computers and will slap one on you. This is especially important if you park in a pay and display council car park.

[SNAKEBITE]

To be on the safe side rag it round town with the stereo blaring, arm out of the window and wheel spinning at every oppurtunity. Round our way the police would never stop you (interfers with their donuts and coffee, plus all that paperwork).