Quick queation on "car tax"...
Quick queation on "car tax"...
Author
Discussion

Gorvid

Original Poster:

22,349 posts

245 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all

I want to go look at a car on the weekend. It's a 500 mile round trip, so I am not keen to mess myself about with multiple visits. But the trade seller doesn't open on Saturdays, unfortunately.

But he does do Sundays - and I am free - so I was planning to go.

I've contacted him and asked that the car be ready for me to drive away, as I'll be coming with cash and insurance and if it's right - I want to drive home in it.

However...

He says the car has no tax, and of course being a Sunday - I imagine all Post Offices will be closed.

The online service needs me to be the registered keeper to buy.

Is there a way around this?

The car is in North London - in case anyone knows of any rogue Sunday opening Post Offices. smile

VeeFour

3,339 posts

182 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all
Drive it home, tax it first thing Monday morning.

That's how I'd usually do it.

Highly unlikely to get a real pull and you'd have to be really unlucky to be caught out by ANPR.

Just as a precaution, have all the paperwork in the car, filled out and ready to take to the post office - it would have to be a real jobsworth copper to do you for it under the circumstances.

Gorvid

Original Poster:

22,349 posts

245 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all

Really?

I was led to believe that there is a crackdown on this - that I'd just get 3 points or worse straight off... frown

slipstream 1985

13,408 posts

199 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all
stay over the sunday night and tax it first thing in the morning at a local p/o

VeeFour

3,339 posts

182 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all
It's non-endorsable, so you'd only be risking a fine - which, IME, isn't too eye-watering for someone who seems to be largely honest.

It would still require a 'live' pull, as an automated ANPR would more than likely be caught / be easily defended by buying the tax at the earliest opportunity.

I'd be more concerned that it takes a few days for the insurance to hit the ASKMID database.

Gorvid

Original Poster:

22,349 posts

245 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all
Definitely can't stay over the Monday.

I didn't realise it was just a fine, still... this must be a common problem - shame there isn't a loophole for the genuine punter, I would happily buy the tax.

Nurburgsingh

5,373 posts

258 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all
If you have an accident in an untaxed car doesnt that give the ins company a lot of wriggle room?

Can you send the dealer the money for the tax up front so they can tax it up front for you?

Maximum Bobs

3,762 posts

238 months

Monday 26th September 2011
quotequote all
I agree with just driving it home. You'll be paying your tax from the first of the month anyway so as VeeFour says take all the paper work with you & obviously make sure the green part of the V5 is completed including the date just in case you're stopped. If the worst comes to the worst you'll only receive a fine, but I highly doubt it.

Rostfritt

3,098 posts

171 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
I agree with having all the docs in the car. Probably worth arguing that you will be getting tax first thing monday morning. Of course if you don't get stopped you can always wait till next Sat to tax it and get the full month

IainZ

14,288 posts

226 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
Tell him to tax the car for 6 months & add it to the bill. If you don't buy it someone else will & the most it would cost him is 20 quid or so if does't sell for a few weeks.

Maximum Bobs

3,762 posts

238 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
Rostfritt said:
I agree with having all the docs in the car. Probably worth arguing that you will be getting tax first thing monday morning. Of course if you don't get stopped you can always wait till next Sat to tax it and get the full month
I read it as he's not going till next Sunday. smile

mrmr96

13,736 posts

224 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
Gorvid said:
Definitely can't stay over the Monday.

I didn't realise it was just a fine, still... this must be a common problem - shame there isn't a loophole for the genuine punter, I would happily buy the tax.
i) buy it on a day when the post office is open
ii) get the seller to tax it before you collect it

It's not rocket surgery.

Pints

18,448 posts

214 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
My previous 3 cars were all bought on Sundays (the one included a journey from Leeds back to Swindon), and I just did the "tax first thing Monday" thing.

I always just made sure I had every bit of paperwork to hand to help aid my case if I was pulled.

Amateurish

8,213 posts

242 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
Can the dealer tax it online if you buy it?

chriscpritchard

284 posts

185 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
If you have an MOT testing station near you (or the dealer, if he can do it, even better!) that opens on sundays, book an MOT, drive it there, then drive it home... that way it's perfectly legal! (yet probably not what that exception is for)

mattdaniels

7,361 posts

302 months

Tuesday 27th September 2011
quotequote all
Don't do anything to try and get tax beforehand. You're appearing too much of a "sure thing" to the seller.

Sort the tax out on Monday IF you buy the car. Just have all the paperwork with you.