Driving an untaxed vehicle
Author
Discussion

focusonme

Original Poster:

691 posts

255 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
Picking a car up on Wednesday. It's tax runs out Tuesday, was wondering if I'd be okay driving it back (a not inconsiderable 150 miles) with the intention of taxing it as soon as I get home, or do I have another, more legal option?

Cheers.

toby tucker

648 posts

294 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
In theory you are breaking the law driving a unlicencesed vehicle on the road.
Personaly I'm notoriously bad at relicensing my vehicle by the end of the due month and i've often left it 2- 3 weeks before paying up - I've never had an issue nor had to pay a fine.
The DVLA are within their rights to fine you (£80) if you haven't declared it on a SORN beyond the 1st of the month , but the reality is they give you a few weeks grace to get in done and registered on their computers.

You could ask the previous owner to re-license the vehicle for you , assuming you pay the licensing fee.

Dwight VanDriver

6,583 posts

274 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
You would get away with it if you do as you say, i.e Licence the vehicle AS SOON AS YOU GOT to destination. By the time the report goes in to DVLA if stopped then their records will show one taken out.

What you cannot circumvent is the fact you could be running without a current Licence on display and if taken to task no magic let out from the FPN (no points)if you cannot convince the stopping officer.

dvd

bimsb6

8,789 posts

251 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
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tho plod would have to be a complete arse to do you for it imo

F.M

5,816 posts

250 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
I would take the chance...

F348

13,843 posts

310 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
Erm, why not take it to the local Post Office where you are buying the car?

BigBob

1,471 posts

255 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
What I have done in the past when I've been in a similar situation ie picking up an untaxed car in the evening after the Post Office has closed is to fill in the paper work including the cheue for the payment, address a stamped envelope to the DVLA and carry that with me.

Got stopped once, explained the situation to the PC and asked him to pop it in the post for me if he had any doubts that I would do it. He sent me on my way.

No basis in law I know, but it did show I was genuine and not a 'Delboy Trotter' running around for ages with a 'Tax Applied For' note in the window.


Tonyrec

3,984 posts

285 months

Saturday 25th February 2006
quotequote all
As long as you have ALL your Docs with you i couldnt see you getting reported on your journey home.

However, as we all know,it is an offence of failing to display.