Road Tax Expired

[lazyitus]

My road tax ran out at the end of June. If I was stopped two weeks after this date (i.e 13/14 July) with the spent tax still in the screen, what is the punishment? Or can I blag it?

[kevinday]

IIRC there is a fine plus the amount of unpaid road tax. There is also officially no grace period, so theoretically you could be done on the first of July. Personally I would remedy the situation asap!

[MilnerR]

That reminds me......... 07/03 phew still time.
Hard luck mate its easy to forget how quick a year goes. Expect a fine and road tax bill for your henious crime!

[cdp]

I don't think there too bothered as long as the tax is continuous - I have taxed my car after the start of the month and nobody ever complained. ( I also once taxed my new car on the 29th only to be told afterwards I could have legally got away with starting on the 1st of the following month).

Please correct me if I am wrong.

[ledfoot]

I think the chances of getting caught with no Tax disc is still low, as there is a car in the works car park with Tax disc that expired end of March.

[icamm]

It depends on who stops you and when. They can prosecute you for no tax (in which case back tax and fine as suggested) or they can give you a "producer" which will give you 5-7 days to get taxed and appear at the Police station with all valid documents.

Edited to say: I don't know what would appen if you got zapped by one of the tax diskchecking cameras though.

>> Edited by icamm on Thursday 10th July 18:27

[Digga]

The offence is "failure to display a tax disc" - in other words even if you've got a valid disc but it's not on display you're liable to be nicked.

If it's 'being renewed' a note to this effect, visible in the disc holder will do for a week or two IIRC.

[5ltr-chim]

If the vehicle has a current disc you can get the replacement upto 2 weeks in advance and start displaying it straight away - so I'm told as they don't have a valid from date.

If the vehicle does not have a valid disc you can get it a max of 2 days in advance and likewise display.

If you're vehicle is taxed but not showing the disc it is the lesser crime of failure to display which IIRC is only about £50.

If it's expired get a replacement double quick as there is NO post expiry allowance anymore (IIRC this changed early 80's - when LVLO's went on strike) - you cannot say applied for as any main post office can issue if you have a V5 or reminder. If you don't you cannot have the vehicle on the public highway - it's that simple.

If you've got caught in the first couple of weeks you might be able to blag your way - overloked due to family crisis etc.. - to the leser fine. This is if you get one that essentially covers the missing period as the bigger fine is now upto something like 2K plus any back tax.