Car tax on purchased vehicle

[Usget]

Some help needed, please, from anyone who understands how the DVLA works. This is the first time I've bought a car since the new rules came in.

I assumed I'd have to tax it straight away, but looking online, the "Date tax due" is shown as 1st August 2015.

Does this mean that the previous owner forgot to cancel/reclaim the tax? Do I still have to apply to tax the vehicle myself?

[marshalla]

Tax is cancelled and refunded to the previous keeper automatically when DVLA receive the V5.

You're in the transitional period (while the paperwork is making its way through the system) so the car will become untaxed soon. Tax it for yourself using the new keeper supplement.

[Usget]

Righto - just wanted to make sure I wasn't paying twice if I could help it.

Cheers!

[speedking31]

Between you and the seller you are paying twice HTH. So don't feel guilty about using the seller's tax for a couple of days before the V5 is sent in.

[S3_Graham]

Usget said:

Righto - just wanted to make sure I wasn't paying twice if I could help it.

Cheers!

What have you bought mate?

[aw51 121565]

Both buyer and seller 'lose' a month in VED, regardless of when the V5C is sent back by the previous RK...

[Usget]

I was wondering if I should see if I can sit it out until 1st of May (banking on the DVLA being slow at processing V5s). But for the sake of £20 it's a bit of a gamble.

Graham - you'd like it actually. A3 1.8TS, 2002, full blue leather. If it doesn't break down in the next week, I've basically stolen it for the price I paid. Downside is that it was FILTHY and stank of fags - currently sat with all the doors and boot open after a good interior clean. If it proves itself reliable I'm going to Revo map it, stick 312mm TT brakes and Bilstein B4s on it, and go hot hatch baiting.

TT sold for a profit within 30 minutes of being advertised!

[Old Merc]

Usget said:

I was wondering if I should see if I can sit it out until 1st of May (banking on the DVLA being slow at processing V5s). But for the sake of £20 it's a bit of a gamble.

That wont work,if the transfer was in April YOUR car tax will start 1st April no matter how long you delay paying.

[barker22]

Old Merc said:

That wont work,if the transfer was in April YOUR car tax will start 1st April no matter how long you delay paying.

No it won't
His tax will start from the month in which he clicks 'pay now'

Whether the dvla are savvy enough to notice that the v5 was signed on the 11th April and the tax was only paid on the 1st May and they issue a fine is another matter.
Tax starts the month you buy it in.

[Usget]

barker22 said:

Whether the dvla are savvy enough to notice that the v5 was signed on the 11th April and the tax was only paid on the 1st May and they issue a fine is another matter.

Would not issuing a fine prove to be a sticky wicket legally? It's like they'd be saying "Car was taxed, but it isn't any more. Here's your bill."

Anyway, when they refund the PO, do they not exclude the current month, meaning that they've had their cash up until the end of April in any case?

I'm not for any second suggesting that any of this stacks up, I'm just speaking theoretically.

[barker22]

Usget said:

Would not issuing a fine prove to be a sticky wicket legally? It's like they'd be saying "Car was taxed, but it isn't any more. Here's your bill."

Anyway, when they refund the PO, do they not exclude the current month, meaning that they've had their cash up until the end of April in any case?

I'm not for any second suggesting that any of this stacks up, I'm just speaking theoretically.

Since its the RK duty to keep the car taxed or sorn'd and the car changed hands on 11 April for example, you have committed the offence of not taxing/sorning so legally they have you bang to rights.
That they already have their money for April would be irrelevant really.....although that's the biggest gripe every car owner has with the new system. That you're effectively paying that month twice.

If you split the cost of the tax over the year then it comes down to whether you think the saving of between £10-40? is worth the risk of the £80 fine from DVLA. Also potentially if you are pulled by the police I believe they issue you their own fine for using the car on the road without tax, aswell as the DVLA's own fine. So its all a question of if YOU think it's worth it.

[Old Merc]

barker22 said:

Old Merc said:

That wont work,if the transfer was in April YOUR car tax will start 1st April no matter how long you delay paying.

No it won't
His tax will start from the month in which he clicks 'pay now'

Whether the dvla are savvy enough to notice that the v5 was signed on the 11th April and the tax was only paid on the 1st May and they issue a fine is another matter.
Tax starts the month you buy it in.

I think DVLA have something in the system that will spot late payers and you will end up getting a bill or a fine.There is a topic on this over in classic cars and the car is "tax free".Yes, DVLA get paid twice in the month a car changes hands andI can't see any way out of it.

[sim16v]

To cover yourself if you "forget" to tax it when you buy it, declare it sorn on the last day of the month which will cover it for that month, then tax it the next day.