Buying an untaxed car - why the difficulty?
Discussion
Say I want to buy a second hand, untaxed car from a trader who happens to be situated 200 miles away. Now I gather the trader can't tax it because their name's not on the V5.
So in theory I could go down there, fill in the v5 and take it to the nearest post office, except I still can't tax it because I wouldn't have my insurance documents.
So would I have to fill out the V5, send it off, then insure the car (which I don't have) and wait until the documents arrive to tax it, then wait for the tax disc to arrive before picking the car up? Can you even insure a car for which you're not the registered keeper?
Plus there's the fact I'd need to keep driving my current car in the interim period, so I'd have to insure two at once. Which isn't ideal.
In addition, I'd want to take the car on a long test drive before buying. Surely without tax that's illegal, so how does that work?
I feel I'm missing something. I've Googled but opinion seems as confused as I am.
So in theory I could go down there, fill in the v5 and take it to the nearest post office, except I still can't tax it because I wouldn't have my insurance documents.
So would I have to fill out the V5, send it off, then insure the car (which I don't have) and wait until the documents arrive to tax it, then wait for the tax disc to arrive before picking the car up? Can you even insure a car for which you're not the registered keeper?
Plus there's the fact I'd need to keep driving my current car in the interim period, so I'd have to insure two at once. Which isn't ideal.
In addition, I'd want to take the car on a long test drive before buying. Surely without tax that's illegal, so how does that work?
I feel I'm missing something. I've Googled but opinion seems as confused as I am.
Its easy.
Insurance on the test drive will be on the traders insurance, as he will still own it at that point, also he should have trade plates which covers the tax issue.
The trader will send off the big part of the V5 and give you the new keeper supplement. This is this bit you need to tax it with, so in theory you can take this part home and tax a couple of days later when your insurance cover note arrives.
If you want to tax it sooner, you could insure the car in advance so you get your cover note before you go to see it.
You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
Insurance on the test drive will be on the traders insurance, as he will still own it at that point, also he should have trade plates which covers the tax issue.
The trader will send off the big part of the V5 and give you the new keeper supplement. This is this bit you need to tax it with, so in theory you can take this part home and tax a couple of days later when your insurance cover note arrives.
If you want to tax it sooner, you could insure the car in advance so you get your cover note before you go to see it.
You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
Firstly, most dealers can and will tax a car for you. It does not need to be in their name - ask them, they'll probably know how to do it.
Secondly, you can test drive a car on trade plates which any genuine trader will have.
Thirdly, many insurance companies will issue a cover note electronically straight away which a post office will now accept. Alternatively, many dealers have temporary insurance schemes which can do a cover note and 1-2 days insurance to get you home.
Finally, even if you can't do any of the above, if you drive it home untaxed as long as you tax it from the start of the month so it is backdated to the day you drove it you are unlikely to get any come back. It is far more important to be insured than taxed.
Secondly, you can test drive a car on trade plates which any genuine trader will have.
Thirdly, many insurance companies will issue a cover note electronically straight away which a post office will now accept. Alternatively, many dealers have temporary insurance schemes which can do a cover note and 1-2 days insurance to get you home.
Finally, even if you can't do any of the above, if you drive it home untaxed as long as you tax it from the start of the month so it is backdated to the day you drove it you are unlikely to get any come back. It is far more important to be insured than taxed.
a) Trader should have trade plates for a demo drive. Car won't have to be taxed then
b) I've never met a trader who wouldn't be happy to tax the car for you if you'll pay for the tax yourself. He won't need the V5 in his name. V5C (the green slip) is enough.
So in short - no problem there.
b) I've never met a trader who wouldn't be happy to tax the car for you if you'll pay for the tax yourself. He won't need the V5 in his name. V5C (the green slip) is enough.
So in short - no problem there.
confused_buyer said:
Finally, even if you can't do any of the above, if you drive it home untaxed as long as you tax it from the start of the month so it is backdated to the day you drove it you are unlikely to get any come back. It is far more important to be insured than taxed.
Interesting, I didn't know this. How much leniency do you get, I assume you would have to wait for the V5 to come through to tax it? I'm looking at traveling a fair distance to view a car from a dealer. If I like it I'd rather to pay for it and drive off in it then rather than a repeat visit. It's untaxed though so this advice could help me out nicely.
Cheers
kentmotorcompany said:
If you want to tax it sooner, you could insure the car in advance so you get your cover note before you go to see it.
You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
These types of insurance typically are not valid for taxing a vehicle. Most have specific exclusions or are excluded by the DVLA.You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
HereBeMonsters said:
kentmotorcompany said:
If you want to tax it sooner, you could insure the car in advance so you get your cover note before you go to see it.
You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
These types of insurance typically are not valid for taxing a vehicle. Most have specific exclusions or are excluded by the DVLA.You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
Excuse my naivety but how does a dealer tax a vehicle that is not in their name? Years ago I tried to tax a car which was not in my name with my traders insurance & was told that what I was trying to do was illegal & the car had to be in my name. The only reason it wasn't in my name was because I wasn't keeping it. I am not a trader by the way.
kentmotorcompany said:
HereBeMonsters said:
kentmotorcompany said:
If you want to tax it sooner, you could insure the car in advance so you get your cover note before you go to see it.
You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
These types of insurance typically are not valid for taxing a vehicle. Most have specific exclusions or are excluded by the DVLA.You could also try a 7 day free insurance which some dealers offer (I offer this. Have you asked the dealer you are going to see?) I believe it is included in some HPI check services. The good part about this is, the cover note is emailed over, and you can print it off straight away to tax with, which saves waiting for the postman.
The 7 day drive away cover only starts from the day or even hour/minute that you drive away, usually with the customer (me) having to arrange it myself between deposit and delivery of the vehicle. All of them (I have checked my paperwork here) specifically say that "this temporary cover is not valid for purchasing a vehicle tax disc" or words to that effect, as do the certificates from people like Day Insure etc.
Are you sure you cannot tax using the traders' insurance and because you've sent off the "selling to a motor trader" part of the V5C?
HereBeMonsters said:
In my experience (having bought 5 or 6 cars from dealers) they have bought the tax as they are the registered trader, holder of the V5C and have traders' insurance.
The 7 day drive away cover only starts from the day or even hour/minute that you drive away, usually with the customer (me) having to arrange it myself between deposit and delivery of the vehicle. All of them (I have checked my paperwork here) specifically say that "this temporary cover is not valid for purchasing a vehicle tax disc" or words to that effect, as do the certificates from people like Day Insure etc.
Are you sure you cannot tax using the traders' insurance and because you've sent off the "selling to a motor trader" part of the V5C?
I have used the 7 day drive away cover in the past specifically at the request of the dealer, as they then received an email copy of the certificate which they used to tax the car.The 7 day drive away cover only starts from the day or even hour/minute that you drive away, usually with the customer (me) having to arrange it myself between deposit and delivery of the vehicle. All of them (I have checked my paperwork here) specifically say that "this temporary cover is not valid for purchasing a vehicle tax disc" or words to that effect, as do the certificates from people like Day Insure etc.
Are you sure you cannot tax using the traders' insurance and because you've sent off the "selling to a motor trader" part of the V5C?
I have known a trader use his trade insurance certificate and writing his details on the V5C as purchaser. He then tippexed them out to replace with my details. I suspect this was a bit dodgy...
So if I buy a car from a private seller that is MOT'd but not taxed, can I just get an insurance doc fr the car in my name, (cover note etc), then go to the seller's gaff, go with him to a PO, shwo them my ins doc in my name and a V5 in seller's name, and get tax? Or do I need the new keeper supplement part that i get when I get the car and he sends the V5 off with me as new keeper?
Is it just a case of filling out some forms at the PO to say I am the new keeper, or do I haver to wait until I get a V5 in my name to tax it?
(PS if I can tax a new to me car from a private seller in this way, does that include in Scotland too?)
Is it just a case of filling out some forms at the PO to say I am the new keeper, or do I haver to wait until I get a V5 in my name to tax it?
(PS if I can tax a new to me car from a private seller in this way, does that include in Scotland too?)
poo at Paul's said:
So if I buy a car from a private seller that is MOT'd but not taxed, can I just get an insurance doc fr the car in my name, (cover note etc), then go to the seller's gaff, go with him to a PO, shwo them my ins doc in my name and a V5 in seller's name, and get tax? Or do I need the new keeper supplement part that i get when I get the car and he sends the V5 off with me as new keeper?
Is it just a case of filling out some forms at the PO to say I am the new keeper, or do I haver to wait until I get a V5 in my name to tax it?
(PS if I can tax a new to me car from a private seller in this way, does that include in Scotland too?)
If the car is MOT'ed all you need is the insurance certificate for this particular car in your name and V5C in your name. You don't have to fill in any forms at the Post Office. It's all legal.Is it just a case of filling out some forms at the PO to say I am the new keeper, or do I haver to wait until I get a V5 in my name to tax it?
(PS if I can tax a new to me car from a private seller in this way, does that include in Scotland too?)
bus pass said:
This is what I have always done.
Buy a used car, (usually at a weekend too), with no tax on it. Wait a few days for my insurance docs to come through, then tax it.
I have been stopped by the police before, (ANPR said no insurance & no tax), showed them my receipt and day insurance cover, explained that I'd be taxing it in the next few days and been let off. This still doesn't stop getting an automated letter being sent through after passing the ANPR on lamp posts, but I'd have thought that if the vehicle was taxed before the fine landed in your letterbox then there would be nothing to worry about?
It looks like you haven't dealt with DVLA much if you expect them to be reasonable... Buy a used car, (usually at a weekend too), with no tax on it. Wait a few days for my insurance docs to come through, then tax it.
I have been stopped by the police before, (ANPR said no insurance & no tax), showed them my receipt and day insurance cover, explained that I'd be taxing it in the next few days and been let off. This still doesn't stop getting an automated letter being sent through after passing the ANPR on lamp posts, but I'd have thought that if the vehicle was taxed before the fine landed in your letterbox then there would be nothing to worry about?
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