RE: No more tax discs!

[voicey]

I think it's a real shame - I staple my old tax discs to A4 paper and file it with all the other documentation related to that car. At least I still get a bit of paper with the MOT!

[framerateuk]

Agent Orange said:

Marvellous news for Caterham owners. No dilemmas of where to place the tax disc.

I can finally take the motorcycle tax disc holder off the side of my windscreen!

[mrmr96]

dandarez said:

Glad I've a lot of my old tax discs from many years past. They are collectable and now fetch good money. This will, in time, make them even more collectable. Don't laugh, it's not just the paper disc, it's what marque is on the disc that can make some rocket in value.

Huh? Who collects tax discs? I know you might keep the old ones for some reason, but who would want to buy them from you?

[HorneyMX5]

Afromonk said:

However, it does beg the question how will sellers of cars prove to buyers that it has so many months of tax left? unless of course you can direct them to an electronic proof?

Indeed. If they're paying on DD then just cancel the DD you're left with an untaxed car possibly knowing nothing about it.

I approve of the change in principle but I suspect the implementation will result in it being a worse system than paying for a bit of paper and will probably cost the government more money to run and us poor suckers more money in fines.

[Lunchie]

I've always liked peering at the tax discs at Sunday Services of Breakfast Clubs- easiest way to spot some replicas!

[emicen]

TristPerrin said:

About time really. It's really pointless now with the electronic database and numberplate recognition technology.

Is it? I've seen numerous cars clamped over the last few years as they were spotted parked without a valid tax disc.

Databases rely on the car being seen to be checked by the Police.

Whilst I agree that the paper disc is out dated, this is by no means a perfect solution.

[RemarkLima]

At last! Really no need for them... Just showed my mum how to order a new tax disc online, as she was complaining about having to queue, the light in her eyes was like someone just being thrown into the far future, eyes all a-wonder!

dandarez said:

As for the technology whereby police and authorities can easily check whether your vehicle is taxed. So, walking along a street of a hundred vehicles what do they do now with no disc viewable - check 'every' vehicle, or just random? I can see even more avoiding paying. Or have I missed the obvious?

You have, they really do not walk along the street checking for out of date tax, much like the TV detector van do not detect if you have a TV:

• The database has a list of all registered vehicles.
• The database has a date by which the RFL expires on said vehicle.
• Reminder is sent out, no payment or SORN, fine sent out.

ANPR will mean they can verify if you've been on the road and fine accordingly.

Sure, some criminal types will have wrong addresses etc... But that's no different to having a paper disc.

[MEC]

Also if they get everyone on monthly DD the rises will seem easier to bear when they talk about "just an extra £5.00 per month" rather than £60.00 a year......much like when fuel started to be priced in litres rather than gallons?

[SaudiJim]

Afromonk said:

However, it does beg the question how will sellers of cars prove to buyers that it has so many months of tax left? unless of course you can direct them to an electronic proof?

I suspect that the seller will have to cancel the direct debit and the buyer will have to start a new direct debit before driving away.

Call me cynical but this will probably result in the government receiving two lots of tax for the same month. Currently, they do not refund payments of partial months and I don't see this changing.

The tax should be added to fuel but that is too simple.

[Nick Young]

Here's something I don't understand.

We're forever being told that it's not car tax, it's vehicle excise duty (VED). So why is it a tax disc, not a VED disc?

[boycie1]

Its already started as of July no New Car comes with a Tax Disc they are sent via post up to 14 Days Later.
If only front Number Plates could be the next thing to go but i suppose they will be needed for the Number Plate Recognition Cameras that are installed to check the Info as you Drive by.

[Arun_D]

dandarez said:

As for the snide remark at the Post Office jobsworth, think yourself lucky if you have a post office

Quite. Does seem a tad unnecessary

[mikeyr]

It's a start - as many others have said perhaps putting the money on fuel would be the next step. Can't really argue with the lack of a paper disc and the ability to pay via DD to spread the cost.

Someone asked about buying a car and knowing how long the tax runs for etc... wonder how this will work selling a car - cancelling DD instruction etc. Although, unlike most people I am fairly sure this will have already been thought by the goverment - just curious as to the workarounds. Maybe a text service?

[motor mad]

Good - there is nothing more frustrating than tearing the perforated disc. DAMN YOU OCD

[Nick Young]

SaudiJim said:

I suspect that the seller will have to cancel the direct debit and the buyer will have to start a new direct debit before driving away.

Call me cynical but this will probably result in the government receiving two lots of tax for the same month. Currently, they do not refund payments of partial months and I don't see this changing.

The tax should be added to fuel but that is too simple.

I agree with you - also makes it next to impossible to avoid. However, currently I have to pay £475 regardless of whether I do 1 mile or 100,000 in a year. If they put the tax on fuel, they won't get as much income from the significant number of people that have an interesting car but don't do that many miles each year.

[Coldfuse]

This is brilliant news, it means i could take my S2000 out for a month over winter when it is normally SORN! Great!

[peterg1955]

[quote]This is brilliant news, it means i could take my S2000 out for a month over winter when it is normally SORN! Great
[/quote]

sadly no, what they mean is you can pay for it monthly but you will still be required to tax for 6 or 12 months at a time (AIUI)

[liamthedude]

Did I read the article correctly?

12 months tax 5% up
6 months tax 5% down

I don't understand, surely everyone will just get 6 months then?? or will 12 months still work out cheaper??

[drthomp82]

https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/app...

Tells how much tax is on a car and how much it is. Its £490 for that Audi to you and me

[Engineer1]

All those celelebrating being able to go out in the winter etc it will be down to the small print I bet they will still be doing 6 month and 12 month it's just it may be easier to buy 6 months tax then cancel it after a month.