Car Tax Online
Discussion
Always found this service most easy and efficient, but up to now I've always taxed continuously. Remember the first time I used it being amazed, with the thousands of cars there are, how quickly "it" checked my MOT and insurance were valid!
Seems that if your car has been on SORN the system has no facility to start a tax disc from a future date, so you can't get your new disc ready for the first of the month?
Even now with just a few hours of December left it wants to sell me a disc starting 01/12/13
So technically even if I tax first thing in the morning, while I have paid my dues I could be "done" for failure to display a valid disc?
Perhaps I should have gone to the Post Office
Seems that if your car has been on SORN the system has no facility to start a tax disc from a future date, so you can't get your new disc ready for the first of the month?
Even now with just a few hours of December left it wants to sell me a disc starting 01/12/13
So technically even if I tax first thing in the morning, while I have paid my dues I could be "done" for failure to display a valid disc?
Perhaps I should have gone to the Post Office
Mike is correct, I checked on this and if you tax online you are allowed to not display for up to 7 days (iirc) but ONLY if you tax continuously. This to me appears barking as you can have paid and still not be allowed to drive for up to 5 days while the disc arrives but a post office can give you a new one 3 days before the start of the month. However as you say it'll all go away with the change to online only.
When I had this issue last year I just put a note in the windscreen that said "tax paid online" and stuck the email receipt on the dash when parked and thought if the buggers want to prosecute me then they really would have no answer to the headline of persecuting the motorist if the daily mail got hold of it
When I had this issue last year I just put a note in the windscreen that said "tax paid online" and stuck the email receipt on the dash when parked and thought if the buggers want to prosecute me then they really would have no answer to the headline of persecuting the motorist if the daily mail got hold of it
I have got to defend the DVLA on this one. The web site is one of the very best rated sites for clarity and ease of use. The quick cross checking of insurance/MOT/tax is in the interests of all responsible motorists and is FAR better than the old system.
Indeed the Police can check tax/insurance/MOT from registration number alone and the recognition systems are improving (although I did get stopped recently, then apologised to when the 'registration' read by the camera proved to be an error)
If you are on a SORN the computer system doesn't allow a part month start. If it did allow a start at the beginning of a current month it would allow people to 'backdate' after they had run the car illegally. Sorry, but you cannot come off SORN at very short notice, you have to plan a little ahead.
Yes, we are going to come off tax discs, they are old technology and the systems are almost ready to go entirely onto digital recognition, whether by the Police or local authorities.
Under the new system the few days grace (which is a woolly concept anyway) wont apply. The tax payment system is instant and the number plate recognition will recognise instantly if you have paid or not.
Three small words of warning however:
1. Local DVLA offices are being phased out, rapidly! Get used to using the website. If you change cars regularly, transfer personal number plates, or have other regular need to go the the DVLA local offices...get reading that website. It is easy.
2. Some people who cannot pay on line or rely on cheque books will struggle. It has to be an 'instantaneous' payment if the system is to work. Even my 93 year old Dad has learnt how to pay direct.
3. Although the tax payment and the MOT are instantaneous the insurance companies do not always have their act together. Paying today doesn't necessarily mean the DVLA are notified today. If you are paying on line direct to a well established company their systems should notify the DVLA as soon as the insurance is 'approved'. So if you want to tax on the first of the month, try not to risk insuring on the same day.
Indeed the Police can check tax/insurance/MOT from registration number alone and the recognition systems are improving (although I did get stopped recently, then apologised to when the 'registration' read by the camera proved to be an error)
If you are on a SORN the computer system doesn't allow a part month start. If it did allow a start at the beginning of a current month it would allow people to 'backdate' after they had run the car illegally. Sorry, but you cannot come off SORN at very short notice, you have to plan a little ahead.
Yes, we are going to come off tax discs, they are old technology and the systems are almost ready to go entirely onto digital recognition, whether by the Police or local authorities.
Under the new system the few days grace (which is a woolly concept anyway) wont apply. The tax payment system is instant and the number plate recognition will recognise instantly if you have paid or not.
Three small words of warning however:
1. Local DVLA offices are being phased out, rapidly! Get used to using the website. If you change cars regularly, transfer personal number plates, or have other regular need to go the the DVLA local offices...get reading that website. It is easy.
2. Some people who cannot pay on line or rely on cheque books will struggle. It has to be an 'instantaneous' payment if the system is to work. Even my 93 year old Dad has learnt how to pay direct.
3. Although the tax payment and the MOT are instantaneous the insurance companies do not always have their act together. Paying today doesn't necessarily mean the DVLA are notified today. If you are paying on line direct to a well established company their systems should notify the DVLA as soon as the insurance is 'approved'. So if you want to tax on the first of the month, try not to risk insuring on the same day.
greymrj said:
If you are on a SORN the computer system doesn't allow a part month start. If it did allow a start at the beginning of a current month it would allow people to 'backdate' after they had run the car illegally. Sorry, but you cannot come off SORN at very short notice, you have to plan a little ahead.
My post wasn't having ago at the dvla website as it is excellent and easy to use, but was suggesting that once you've paid online then you have paid and should be entitled to drive from that point as works with insurance and will need to be the case in the future. My point was to have to wait for delivery before you can drive even though you have paid is barking as you cannot buy in advance from the website. I.e buy your tax on the first of the month to come of sorn but can't drive till disc arrives. Really my point was the grace period, which is clear if you read the dvla website and my local police websites, should apply to all online purchases including when coming off sorn and not just those that are on a continuous tax basis.Anyway I am al for the online route but recognise the difficulty for some
greymrj said:
If you are on a SORN the computer system doesn't allow a part month start. If it did allow a start at the beginning of a current month it would allow people to 'backdate' after they had run the car illegally.
But that's what it was trying to do, offer me a tax disc that started on first of December?( I'm beginning to doubt myself so just tried again,it is now 9.30pm on the 31/12/13 and it is offering me a disc valid from 01/12/13, I'd be paying a months tax for two and a half hours
greymrj said:
Sorry, but you cannot come off SORN at very short notice, you have to plan a little ahead.
Surely it's just the opposite, you "come off" on the day you apply?I tried to plan ahead, car MOT'd and apply for tax disc to have it stuck on the screen and be all legal ready for Jan 1
Happy New Year everyone, I'm going for a drive in the morning
phillpot said:
Surely it's just the opposite, you "come off" on the day you apply?
I tried to plan ahead, car MOT'd and apply for tax disc to have it stuck on the screen and be all legal ready for Jan 1
Happy New Year everyone, I'm going for a drive in the morning
Happy New Year Mike! I tried to plan ahead, car MOT'd and apply for tax disc to have it stuck on the screen and be all legal ready for Jan 1
Happy New Year everyone, I'm going for a drive in the morning
I just hope you don't get done for computer illiteracy.
I stand no chance in this brave new world. I don't have a computer & wouldn't know how to use it if I did.
Lock me up & throw away the key.
( Dear Daily Fail, I'm an old bloke being persecuted because I don't know how to use a computer thingy. Please help. )
I am also very very drunk.....
greymrj said:
2. Some people who cannot pay on line or rely on cheque books will struggle. It has to be an 'instantaneous' payment if the system is to work. Even my 93 year old Dad has learnt how to pay direct.
Good for him. However I still believe there has to be an alternative for people who are not on the internet or don't own a computer or smart phone. There are still parts of the UK not connected to broadband so how are they going to do this if their tax has run out? Hope a bus turns up so they can get to their nearest library (assuming there is one nearby) so they can go online, tax their car then get the bus home again to drive their car?
My Dad doesn't have a computer or an internet connection, is he (and others like him) expected to buy one and start paying for an internet connection just so he can tax his car online?
Give it a few years and the government will start phasing out old people (with an exemption for MPs). They cost too much to run and are bad for the environment (never wash and fart a lot). That should cure the problem. Then they will sell off the highlands and islands to solve the broadband issue.
Until then I will do my bit for the environment with my de-catted TVR and get my free prescriptions for being over 60.....
Until then I will do my bit for the environment with my de-catted TVR and get my free prescriptions for being over 60.....
QBee said:
Give it a few years and the government will start phasing out old people (with an exemption for MPs). They cost too much to run and are bad for the environment (never wash and fart a lot). That should cure the problem.
Hey QBee, I'll have you know that I wash/shower regularly.I think this is important to keep my remaining bits in the best possible condition for when I get carted off to be re-cycled.
Nobody wants dirty unwashed bits do they?
I did think about having my underparts waxoyled, but decided against it as the laundry bills would be astronomical.
But yes, you're right, us old people do tend to fart a lot.
Perhaps it's the ale, or the curry, or possibly the chilli sprouts & cheesy peas.
But it does help global warming, making for a nicer environment for our poor old arthritic bones.
Edited to correct a couple of grammatical inexactitudes innit?
Don't want to give the Spelling Police any excuse to take me away.
I've heard they are clamping down hard this year, especially on the elderly.
OMG!
It's already started! They are phasing us out on the flimsiest pretexts.....Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 1st January 13:56
It works the other way as well. If you surrender your tax disc on the 1st of the month you have to pay for the whole month.
Me – “But I posted it to you on the 30th September”.
Faceless Bureaucrat – “Well it depends on when we receive it”.
Me - “But you now have my tax disc so I can’t use it”.
FB – “Well we could send it back to you”.
Me – “How long will that take?”
FB – “Up to 15 working days – from when we find your post”.
Me – “So by the time I get it back there might be only one week of the month left”.
FB – “That’s the rules”.
Me – “Are you French?”
Me – “But I posted it to you on the 30th September”.
Faceless Bureaucrat – “Well it depends on when we receive it”.
Me - “But you now have my tax disc so I can’t use it”.
FB – “Well we could send it back to you”.
Me – “How long will that take?”
FB – “Up to 15 working days – from when we find your post”.
Me – “So by the time I get it back there might be only one week of the month left”.
FB – “That’s the rules”.
Me – “Are you French?”
The DVLA online system used to be brilliant- until they decided to "improve" things several months ago. In true governmental fashion it has gone to being frustrating beyond belief: tried to SORN a car (not the beastie) and, with the reminder in front of me with all the details, the wonderful system said that the car doesn't exist!!!! In the end, filled the reminder form in & posted back to dvl a having of course kept a photocopy. I fear greatly for everybody come October when you don't get a disc anymore as presumably you won't be able to go down to the Post Office any longer.
Sandgrounder said:
Hi Mike,
Unless I am mistaken, you won't have this problem in 12 months time, because tax discs are being phased out, aren't they?
I presume, your car reg is all the police need to run past their computer to see if you are legal or not!
I might be wrong.....
Unless I am mistaken, you won't have this problem in 12 months time, because tax discs are being phased out, aren't they?
I presume, your car reg is all the police need to run past their computer to see if you are legal or not!
I might be wrong.....
I can't help thinking this is going to lead to a rise in stolen number plates...Colin RedGriff said:
However I still believe there has to be an alternative for people who are not on the internet or don't own a computer or smart phone.
My Dad doesn't have a computer or an internet connection, is he (and others like him) expected to buy one and start paying for an internet connection just so he can tax his car online?
No they've said you'll still be able to pay for it at a Post Office but you obviously won't get a disc.My Dad doesn't have a computer or an internet connection, is he (and others like him) expected to buy one and start paying for an internet connection just so he can tax his car online?
S2Mike said:
Having no Tax Disc on display also attracts the Parking Poleeze, a mate had failed to put a new disc on display, foolishly parked "momentairily" on double yellows and ended up having to "Produce" Documents down the cop shop. Fined for the parking missdemeanor £60 though
Shortly after the Boer War I got stopped by BiB. I had pulled out of a side turning onto a B road rather close in front of his fuzziness, mainly because there was so much snow and ice on my Mini I actually couldn't see what was coming. However, when he stopped me to tell me off, he said he wouldn't have bothered, but I also had a tail light out. Two offences tends to cause the notebook to come out in my experience.I was stopped on the M1 in 2004. Pulled over on or about the 4th Sept. My car was registered 1/9/03 and my job concerned criminal investigations.
At first I was amused as one officer was professional but the other annoyingly kept asking what's wrong with my car. The game became boring and I realised the tax disc had run out by 3 or 4 days (a good reason to pull someone from the M1?).
I apologised and said I can tax it at lunchtime in Sheffield but was confused as I hadn't had a reminder. The cocky one said the reminder was in my window. That annoyed me but I realised that the car would not appear to junior officers and therefore maybe reminders weren't issued (at that time).
Oddly, when I muted this, showed my ID and said I was happy to discuss with the Ops Commander the attitude of the cocky one changed.....
The online system has worked well for me normally, the only difficulty being the aforementioned SORN issue.
At first I was amused as one officer was professional but the other annoyingly kept asking what's wrong with my car. The game became boring and I realised the tax disc had run out by 3 or 4 days (a good reason to pull someone from the M1?).
I apologised and said I can tax it at lunchtime in Sheffield but was confused as I hadn't had a reminder. The cocky one said the reminder was in my window. That annoyed me but I realised that the car would not appear to junior officers and therefore maybe reminders weren't issued (at that time).
Oddly, when I muted this, showed my ID and said I was happy to discuss with the Ops Commander the attitude of the cocky one changed.....
The online system has worked well for me normally, the only difficulty being the aforementioned SORN issue.
Where I used to live a number of owners used to leave their cars parked half on the kerb with no tax disc. The response from the police was “it’s not a police matter sir”. They weren’t particularly interested in the bloke who drove a succession of Eastern European registered vehicles either, presumably in order to avoid tax, Mot and probably insurance as well. Cue Daily Mail style rant about what do we pay our taxes for? etc etc.
Gassing Station | S Series | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff