Road Tax - do I need the tax disc?

[ColinM50]

Car's been SORNed over the winter and now want to get it back on the road so I applied for a tax disc this evening on line and I should get the disc later this week. But can I use the car in the meantime?

DVLA website says

I have not received the tax disc. Can I use the vehicle without the tax disc displayed?
When you apply for a tax disc online or by using DVLA's phone service you are able to legally continue to drive your vehicle for up to 14 days after the tax disc has expired while you wait for the new tax disc to arrive. This will only apply when you have applied for a new tax disc before the current one expires. You should continue to display the expired disc on your vehicle, until the new one arrives."

Which is OK if it's just renewing tax on say April 1 on a car that expired March 31, but what about in my case? Last time the car was taxed was Nov and it's been in my garage since. It's taxed as from tomorrow, but can I legally use it tomorrow?

[Nigel Worc's]

From what you've quoted, I'd say you have to wait for it to arrive

[SV8Predator]

ColinM50 said:

It's taxed as from tomorrow, but can I legally use it tomorrow?

You know you cannot. You've even quoted the reason why. Why do you ask?

[Butter Face]

No you can't use it

You should have just gone to the PO and got one.

[agtlaw]

The DVLA website is not a source of law.

The Finance Act 2013 inserted into the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 the following:

33A. A person is not guilty of ... using or keeping a vehicle [without a tax disc] on a public road during any of the following periods:

First registration
The period of 14 days beginning with the day on which the vehicle is first registered under this Act.

Change of keeper
The period of 14 days beginning with the day on which a new licence or nil licence is issued for the vehicle because of a change in the person by whom the vehicle is being kept.

Renewal etc.
The period of 14 days following the time when a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle, or a relevant declaration applying to the vehicle, ceases to be in force, but only if an application for a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle to run from that time has been received before that time.

Replacement
The period beginning with the time when a licence or nil licence that is in force for or in respect of the vehicle is delivered to the Secretary of State with an application for a replacement licence, and ending with the time when the replacement licence is obtained.

[TooMany2cvs]

agtlaw said:

Renewal etc.
The period of 14 days following the time when a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle, or a relevant declaration applying to the vehicle, ceases to be in force, but only if an application for a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle to run from that time has been received before that time.

And that "relevant declaration" would certainly seem to include the declaration of SORN...

[agtlaw]

Yes.

[Jim1556]

I believe you're only offence would be failing to display. It shouldn't trigger an ANPR camera as you've taxed it online, a jobsworth traffic warden might report you though...

[Dog Star]

Jim1556 said:

I believe you're only offence would be failing to display. It shouldn't trigger an ANPR camera as you've taxed it online, a jobsworth traffic warden might report you though...

Indeed. Some people on here are so anal about tax discs. Just use it. It's taxed. Do what I do and print off the online receipt, fold it and tuck in down the side of the windscreen. It'd be a hard copper indeed who would book you because the disc was genuinely in the post.

[ColinM50]

Since I've already got nine points on my licence decided not to risk it and left the car in the garage for the week. Tax disc came today so tomorrow ............

[Nigel Worc's]

ColinM50 said:

Since I've already got nine points on my licence decided not to risk it and left the car in the garage for the week. Tax disc came today so tomorrow ............

Not a bad decision in the circumstances, but AGTLAW thinks you are ok, and he's a solly sitter specialising in these issues.

[Cliftonite]

ColinM50 said:

Since I've already got nine points on my licence decided not to risk it and left the car in the garage for the week. Tax disc came today so tomorrow ............

You don't get points for (not) paying tax!

[Jeff J]

I've just taxed mine from April 1st,having been sorn from last September. I taxed it online March 30th as you can tax it two days before the first of the new month,there's a warning saying the car is still sorn and untaxed until the first however.When the payment transaction is completed print off the page with the payment details, date and reference number, keep it in your car until you receive you tax disc.My new tax disc is franked 30th March, as when paid for.

[sebhaque]

I seem to recall the online tax purchase method giving you a grace period of five (working) days to allow for the tax disc to arrive. I remember neglecting to update the tax on one of my cars until the day before it expired (I hadn't used the car for a few months so I forgot) but took it out for a spin a few days later, tax expired but paid for online. No issues.

DVLA seem to have taken it off their site, sneakily, but not released any official statement superceding the 5-day rule. Look here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php...
Note that the archived article specifically mentioned a lack of a tax disc - so you should be fine.

HTH.

[SS2.]

sebhaque said:

I seem to recall the online tax purchase method giving you a grace period of five (working) days to allow for the tax disc to arrive.

The grace period has been extended to 14 days - see agtlaw's post, above.