Tried to get a new Tax disc today...failed...what to do?

Tried to get a new Tax disc today...failed...what to do?

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sparks_E39

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

212 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
Tax disc expires tomorrow, tried phoning up the automated service to renew, got as far as them checking my insurance details, and because my insurance is renewed at 12pm today they currently think I am uninsured, even though I'm still with the same insurance company and the policy is just carrying on. My new Insurance details are still in the post (sorted it yesterday, is all that strike action still going on?) so going to the post office is out of the question, so I take it its just a case of putting the car on the drive for a couple of days? The automated guy said that it may because of the above isuue with my insurance, and that may be why its currently not on the system. Does anyone have any idea how long it takes them to get up to date information, or am I buggered? Also how long do I have (with my car on the drive) before I get in truble for not renewing my Tax disc, considering I have made every effort to sort it out?

shirt

22,508 posts

200 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
have you access to a fax machine? post office might try and kick a fuss over seeing the originals but i've taxed using a fax copy before now. worth a shot.

i think you have 14 days grace so it'll be fine on your drive.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
Can you get to the PO before 12?!

I have the same issue having just bought a new car and insured it, but luckily flux email the insurance docs so I've printed them out and I'm popping to the PO at lunch today to sort it out.

HellDiver

5,708 posts

181 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
You've generally got 14 days grace.

paoloh

8,617 posts

203 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
If it's just renewing, why is car coming up as uninsured?

sparks_E39

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

212 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Can you get to the PO before 12?!

I have the same issue having just bought a new car and insured it, but luckily flux email the insurance docs so I've printed them out and I'm popping to the PO at lunch today to sort it out.
Unfortuantly no, as I am at work till late, and have no way of getting the documents there, I don't have fax facilities either.

sparks_E39

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

212 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
paoloh said:
If it's just renewing, why is car coming up as uninsured?
They said there may be a delay in thier system knowing that I have renewed.

paoloh

8,617 posts

203 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
sparks_E39 said:
paoloh said:
If it's just renewing, why is car coming up as uninsured?
They said there may be a delay in thier system knowing that I have renewed.
YHM

aeropilot

34,299 posts

226 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
sparks_E39 said:
Tax disc expires tomorrow, tried phoning up the automated service to renew, got as far as them checking my insurance details, and because my insurance is renewed at 12pm today they currently think I am uninsured, even though I'm still with the same insurance company and the policy is just carrying on. My new Insurance details are still in the post (sorted it yesterday, is all that strike action still going on?) so going to the post office is out of the question, so I take it its just a case of putting the car on the drive for a couple of days? The automated guy said that it may because of the above isuue with my insurance, and that may be why its currently not on the system. Does anyone have any idea how long it takes them to get up to date information, or am I buggered? Also how long do I have (with my car on the drive) before I get in truble for not renewing my Tax disc, considering I have made every effort to sort it out?
Why did you leave it until the last day to sort, as you could have applied online for the new tax up to 14 days before it runs out, so tbh, that's not making every effort to sort it out?
The automated systems take a while to update, I fell foul of this when my motorbike was one year old, so I then got a 6 month tax to split the tax/insurance renew at the same time, so I can now happily renew online with no issues.


Edited by aeropilot on Friday 30th October 10:35

sparks_E39

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

212 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
sparks_E39 said:
Tax disc expires tomorrow, tried phoning up the automated service to renew, got as far as them checking my insurance details, and because my insurance is renewed at 12pm today they currently think I am uninsured, even though I'm still with the same insurance company and the policy is just carrying on. My new Insurance details are still in the post (sorted it yesterday, is all that strike action still going on?) so going to the post office is out of the question, so I take it its just a case of putting the car on the drive for a couple of days? The automated guy said that it may because of the above isuue with my insurance, and that may be why its currently not on the system. Does anyone have any idea how long it takes them to get up to date information, or am I buggered? Also how long do I have (with my car on the drive) before I get in truble for not renewing my Tax disc, considering I have made every effort to sort it out?
Why did you leave it until the last day to sort, as you could have applied online for the new tax up to 14 days before it runs out, so tbh, that's not making every effort to sort it out?
The automated systems take a while to update, I fell foul of this when my motorbike was one year old, so I then got a 6 month tax to split the tax/insurance renew at the same time, so I can now happily renew online with no issues.


Edited by aeropilot on Friday 30th October 10:35
Usually I'm not such a slacker, but due to money issues which I don't want to go into, I had to wait until today, Payday.

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Why did you leave it until the last day to sort, as you could have applied online for the new tax up to 14 days before it runs out, so tbh, that's not making every effort to sort it out?
There's always one who chooses to criticise instead of offering advice. My mrs renews through Direct Line. Now, I don't know what the DVLA cut-off point is, but her renewal was up just before the end of this month and she tried to renew at the earliest opportunity when she had a week or so left on her insurance but the online system said no dice. She had to wait for her new docs to come through.

KaraK

13,177 posts

208 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
aeropilot said:
Why did you leave it until the last day to sort, as you could have applied online for the new tax up to 14 days before it runs out, so tbh, that's not making every effort to sort it out?
There's always one who chooses to criticise instead of offering advice. My mrs renews through Direct Line. Now, I don't know what the DVLA cut-off point is, but her renewal was up just before the end of this month and she tried to renew at the earliest opportunity when she had a week or so left on her insurance but the online system said no dice. She had to wait for her new docs to come through.
It doesn't matter how early you try and tax it your still stuck in the same predicament, the insurance has to be valid when the tax disc starts and Direct Line's auto-renewal system is appalling - it can take a couple of days for them to update the MID and you end up not being able to tax the car through no fault of your own. I had all this drama myself this year and ended up going a teensy ballistic at their "supervisor" over it and their attitude.

It would appear that the only way round it is to ring the insurer a week or two in advance and demand that the send the documents early. It kind of defeats the point of the auto-renewal process but it's either that or you need to move your tax date away from your insurance renewal.

sparks_E39

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

212 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
KaraK said:
hornetrider said:
aeropilot said:
Why did you leave it until the last day to sort, as you could have applied online for the new tax up to 14 days before it runs out, so tbh, that's not making every effort to sort it out?
There's always one who chooses to criticise instead of offering advice. My mrs renews through Direct Line. Now, I don't know what the DVLA cut-off point is, but her renewal was up just before the end of this month and she tried to renew at the earliest opportunity when she had a week or so left on her insurance but the online system said no dice. She had to wait for her new docs to come through.
It doesn't matter how early you try and tax it your still stuck in the same predicament, the insurance has to be valid when the tax disc starts and Direct Line's auto-renewal system is appalling - it can take a couple of days for them to update the MID and you end up not being able to tax the car through no fault of your own. I had all this drama myself this year and ended up going a teensy ballistic at their "supervisor" over it and their attitude.

It would appear that the only way round it is to ring the insurer a week or two in advance and demand that the send the documents early. It kind of defeats the point of the auto-renewal process but it's either that or you need to move your tax date away from your insurance renewal.
I'm going to get 6 months now, and in 6 months time buy 12 months worth to avoid this issue. Its only because I picked up my car exactly a year ago today with fresh tax and MOT. Its all in the same bloody month, MOT too silly

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
KaraK said:
hornetrider said:
aeropilot said:
Why did you leave it until the last day to sort, as you could have applied online for the new tax up to 14 days before it runs out, so tbh, that's not making every effort to sort it out?
There's always one who chooses to criticise instead of offering advice. My mrs renews through Direct Line. Now, I don't know what the DVLA cut-off point is, but her renewal was up just before the end of this month and she tried to renew at the earliest opportunity when she had a week or so left on her insurance but the online system said no dice. She had to wait for her new docs to come through.
It doesn't matter how early you try and tax it your still stuck in the same predicament, the insurance has to be valid when the tax disc starts and Direct Line's auto-renewal system is appalling - it can take a couple of days for them to update the MID and you end up not being able to tax the car through no fault of your own. I had all this drama myself this year and ended up going a teensy ballistic at their "supervisor" over it and their attitude.

It would appear that the only way round it is to ring the insurer a week or two in advance and demand that the send the documents early. It kind of defeats the point of the auto-renewal process but it's either that or you need to move your tax date away from your insurance renewal.
Ah, cheers for that. Makes sense. smile

speedychrissie

2,994 posts

238 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
get the documents emailed to you.

Munter

31,319 posts

240 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
sparks_E39 said:
I'm going to get 6 months now, and in 6 months time buy 12 months worth to avoid this issue. Its only because I picked up my car exactly a year ago today with fresh tax and MOT. Its all in the same bloody month, MOT too silly
By luck or design I've always got dealers to put 6 months tax (not 12) on cars I buy. Which has helped me avoid your problem. Mostly luck and feeling tight I guess helped here!

LuS1fer

41,086 posts

244 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
You've generally got 14 days grace.
Myth.

SilentH

91 posts

181 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
paoloh said:
If it's just renewing, why is car coming up as uninsured?
I cant explain this in a short way (Lord I have tried!) - but it works something like this:

If you're trying to renew your car tax online, the Tax system looks ahead to the MID for the month the tax would be effective.

If your policy renews in the same month as your tax, then it wont appear as insured. (Because technically you wont be insured in that period until the insurance policy has actually renewed and the details uploaded to the MID.)

Its shoddy, but that seems to be the case. Only way to beat this is to do what has been suggested and break the loop by buying 6 months of tax disc this time round. Or just going to the post office with a valid insurance certificate.

snotrag

14,446 posts

210 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
HellDiver said:
You've generally got 14 days grace.
Myth.
theres some mis-information here.


You do NOT have ANY grace for driving round in a Vehicle that is untaxed.


You ARE allowed to drive around in a vehicle that is Taxed, but showing the old tax disc (IE octobers). You could drive round till Thursday 5th November showing the old disc - so long as the car was actually Taxed.

In other words - only if your waiting for it in the post from the DVLA. 5 Days only.


OR - If you are NOT taxing a car. You have 14 days grace from when the cars Tax runs out - to delcaring it Sorn. This is to account for documents in the post from the insurers, etc.

You will not be fined for this - but - You are NOT allowed to drive the car or leave it on the public road.


This is from the V5C booklet I was reading last night so I'm relatively sure its accurate.

Thorny

1,076 posts

209 months

Friday 30th October 2009
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
HellDiver said:
You've generally got 14 days grace.
Myth.

Q370: Have I got 14 days grace to get my new tax disc when it runs out?


No, however there is an exemption for the first 5 working days of the month from displaying a valid tax disc. The exemption will only apply in the month when the tax disc commences and where an application for a new tax disc has been made before the old one expires. Drivers should continue to display the previous tax disc until the new one arrives. After 5 days the offence will be committed if the new tax disc is not displayed.

You have advance warning when the tax is due to expire, either six months or twelve months. You should make arrangements to re tax your car within plenty of time of the expiration date of your current tax disc. You can tax your vehicle on line, see website in related information for more details.

Irrespective of whether a car is used on a road the DVLA send out automatic penalty notices to anyone who has not renewed their tax disc (unless they have completed a Statutory Off Road Notice). However, the DVLA delay sending out such notices until 14 days after the licence is expired, which is where the myth that there is 14 days grace probably began.