Buying car privately - Tax and Insurance

Buying car privately - Tax and Insurance

Author
Discussion

Daaaveee

Original Poster:

909 posts

223 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Hi guys,

Firstly apologies if this seems like a stupid query, but would like to understand the situation fully based on the recent tax changes, to avoid another 5 hour round trip!

I'm going to view a car on Saturday (nothing to exotic, just a little 2 seater to keep in the garage for the weekend to tinker with, to the tune on £1500).

I have full intention of buying it and driving it away on the day providing everything looks as described, however as far as I am aware I will need to make a trip to the post office with the completed new owner part of the V5 in order to tax it before driving away? So therefore as far as I understand the process will be:

1. Pay for car and fill out V5.
2. Call insurance company and arrange cover to begin immediately.
3. Go to post office (not in new car!) with V5 in hand and ask to tax the car.
4. Return to car and drive away legally, taxed and insured.

Is this correct?

Am I right in thinking that the post office will be able to see if the car is insured in my name as soon as I have paid the insurance company and they have updated their records?

LouD86

3,279 posts

153 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Purchase Car
Change Insurance
Call and Tax,

Drive home!

anonymous-user

54 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
I would not fret about the risk of being done while driving the new car to a post office to tax it.

SS2.

14,461 posts

238 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
LouD86 said:
Purchase Car
Change Insurance
Call and Tax,

Drive home!
This.

No need to visit a Post Office.

JZZ30

1,076 posts

115 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Is the Insurance Database updated instantly?

SS2.

14,461 posts

238 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
JZZ30 said:
Is the Insurance Database updated instantly?
Insurance no longer needs to be checked when taxing a vehicle.


Edited by SS2. on Thursday 30th October 14:36

jimi

521 posts

263 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
As long as you can get internet you can do it all as you buy the car.

Insurance, just call up the company you are with and give them the details.

For Tax you need to go to

https://www.gov.uk/tax-disc

and use the 12 digit reference number on your New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2)

If you cant get t'internet, you can call 0300 123 4321 and tax it there.

Much easier than going to the PO, parking, waiting, insurance docs etc. etc.

Daaaveee

Original Poster:

909 posts

223 months

Thursday 30th October 2014
quotequote all
Thanks everyone - very helpful. Much easier than going down to the PO.