Does my vehicle need to be taxed?
Discussion
I am in the UK. My tax has run out and I do not drive it as it needs\I'm doing a lot of repairs on it. I have just left it parked on a permit holders bay outside my home i.e. on a public side road. Does it need to be taxed?
I looked at the guidelines and I think it says an non taxed vehicle cannot be left on a public highway. I think public highway means main road rather than side street?
I looked at the guidelines and I think it says an non taxed vehicle cannot be left on a public highway. I think public highway means main road rather than side street?
Cars must be continuously taxed or SORN: Statutory Off Road Notice. Note the off road bit, it can't be any road, must be private land. If you've let the tax expire and not completed a SORN, it's already too late and I don't think there's a grace period, there's probably a fine in the post.
If you really mean 'untaxed,' the registered keeper will be sent a reminder after a few weeks. It's unlikely to be 'in the post' yet, they give several weeks grace, I found this out by accident once.
At least declare it SORN, but, yes, on a public road, it should have VED. That said
if it's a side street tucked away, the chances of a DVLA detector van or police car equipped vehicle with active ANPR going past it are slim.
At least declare it SORN, but, yes, on a public road, it should have VED. That said
if it's a side street tucked away, the chances of a DVLA detector van or police car equipped vehicle with active ANPR going past it are slim.V8fan said:
If you really mean 'untaxed,' the registered keeper will be sent a reminder after a few weeks. It's unlikely to be 'in the post' yet, they give several weeks grace, I found this out by accident once.
At least declare it SORN, but, yes, on a public road, it should have VED. That said
if it's a side street tucked away, the chances of a DVLA detector van or police car equipped vehicle with active ANPR going past it are slim.
Hmmm........No guarantees on that one!At least declare it SORN, but, yes, on a public road, it should have VED. That said
if it's a side street tucked away, the chances of a DVLA detector van or police car equipped vehicle with active ANPR going past it are slim.We live in a small side street, and a few months ago there were two cars parked on the street, some distance apart, both with bright yellow clamps on a wheel, and a big sticker on the window telling the World that the cars were untaxed.
I seriously doubt it was the DVLA or police out cruising the streets just on the off chance of catching untaxed cars, but I'd put money on it being a pi$$ed off neighbour who grassed then up! - Especially as on-street parking is so limited.
(And before someone suggests I grassed them up - I couldn't be ar$ed to grass them up. I made sure my home came with off-road parking, so it doesn't affect me)
People keep on asking this question about untaxed cars, its been dealt with many many times, everyone should know, its simple..
The public highway is a public highway, it doesn't matter if its the M25 or a country lane in the middle of the Yorkshire Moors. Cars on the road must be taxed and insured 24/7, (and MOT).
The public highway is a public highway, it doesn't matter if its the M25 or a country lane in the middle of the Yorkshire Moors. Cars on the road must be taxed and insured 24/7, (and MOT).
craigjm said:
Public highway means any road that is not owned by you or the property that you live on. You need to tax it as you are parking on a public highway using a permit. It’s the term highway that is confusing you as it makes people think of a busy road
There are some sections of Public Highway that are private roads with Highway Rights over them. 
RSTurboPaul said:
craigjm said:
Public highway means any road that is not owned by you or the property that you live on. You need to tax it as you are parking on a public highway using a permit. It’s the term highway that is confusing you as it makes people think of a busy road
There are some sections of Public Highway that are private roads with Highway Rights over them. 
OP said:
parked on a permit holders bay outside my home i.e. on a public side road
Yeah like loads of the places the OP is talking about right? craigjm said:
RSTurboPaul said:
craigjm said:
Public highway means any road that is not owned by you or the property that you live on. You need to tax it as you are parking on a public highway using a permit. It’s the term highway that is confusing you as it makes people think of a busy road
There are some sections of Public Highway that are private roads with Highway Rights over them. 
OP said:
parked on a permit holders bay outside my home i.e. on a public side road
Yeah like loads of the places the OP is talking about right? Cat
fooman said:
Cars must be continuously taxed or SORN: Statutory Off Road Notice. Note the off road bit, it can't be any road, must be private land. If you've let the tax expire and not completed a SORN, it's already too late and I don't think there's a grace period, there's probably a fine in the post.
Certainly agree it is not worthwhile finding out if possible but I would imagine they allow 5 working days at least - many payments on credit cards take that long to get processed. Barclaycard is good at showing these, they are listed as pending payments and can be there a whole week before going through or even dropping away.However, it might be more leniency is showed if the car is taxed within a week of running out, as then you get hit for the whole months anyhow.
SORN means loss of revenue unless....the fine is dished out.
4rephill said:
Hmmm........No guarantees on that one!
We live in a small side street, and a few months ago there were two cars parked on the street, some distance apart, both with bright yellow clamps on a wheel, and a big sticker on the window telling the World that the cars were untaxed.
I seriously doubt it was the DVLA or police out cruising the streets just on the off chance of catching untaxed cars, but I'd put money on it being a pi$$ed off neighbour who grassed then up! - Especially as on-street parking is so limited.
(And before someone suggests I grassed them up - I couldn't be ar$ed to grass them up. I made sure my home came with off-road parking, so it doesn't affect me)
This was before covid19 was here though wasn't it? They've other priorites at the moment. I did SAY it was a slim chance, that's not guarantee. Especially if you live in a cul-de-sac somewhere remote, but the OP has a parking permit so it may be a busy road if that is necessary.We live in a small side street, and a few months ago there were two cars parked on the street, some distance apart, both with bright yellow clamps on a wheel, and a big sticker on the window telling the World that the cars were untaxed.
I seriously doubt it was the DVLA or police out cruising the streets just on the off chance of catching untaxed cars, but I'd put money on it being a pi$$ed off neighbour who grassed then up! - Especially as on-street parking is so limited.
(And before someone suggests I grassed them up - I couldn't be ar$ed to grass them up. I made sure my home came with off-road parking, so it doesn't affect me)
It's likely your neighbour's car were untaxed rather than declared SORN. And been ignoring letters about it.
DVLA had a database error when I bought a motorcycle in 2017; I bought VED but the database didn't update for some reason. I got a letter 6 weeks after I'd bought it stating I had to pay back tax to when I bought it! It was sorted out when I sent them as copy of the confirmation email that I HAD taxed it.
On several occasions since the ceasation of VED transfer, I've bought a car on in the last few days of a month (29th - 31st ish) and then bought VED for it on the 1st of the next month. DVLA have never said anything. Like you say, they've already had a month's payment for that car.
If the car is SORN though, I buy it immediately, as required.
If the car is SORN though, I buy it immediately, as required.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I bought a second-hand MX-5 from a Mazda main dealer in January. I taxed it before I drove it away.Within 5 minutes of leaving the dealership I was pulled over by a police car (which did a U-turn to stop me). The told me that their ANPR showed the car as untaxed. Obviously the DVLA database had not yet updated. Once I showed them the email confirming that I had paid, they were happy. They had no interest in checking my insurance or anything else.
I don't know where you get the idea that the police won't deal with tax.
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