car dealer telling the truth re. taxing a new car

donglemouse

the situation is this, a friend is buying a new car from a dealer taking advantage of the scrappage, scheme and buying new car with cash not finance - everything is in place and going to plan until........

the dealer tells my friend they can not collect the new car until they have given the dealer a paper insurance cover note for the new car (and a fax or email version of the cover note is not acceptable per the dealer)

the friend has insurance in place with their longstanding trustworthy insurer but is stuck waiting for the insurer's cover note to arrive via post - which may take an unknown time with strikes etc

[i know you can get specialist firms who do one day cover but again with the dealer insistent a web printed cover note is no good, this probably won't be any quicker]

i know other people who bought new cars within the last year and didn't have this issue - as the dealer taxed the car without all this procedure

the dealer insists they are doing this correctly and the process can't be speeded up, does anyone know is what the dealer saying true?

someone suggested to me most the dealer is taking rubbish and most dealers would just use their own trade insurance to get a new car taxed no fuss

i posted this one on the insurance board yesterday but would also appeciate any comments from those in the know on this board

if you need any more details to pass comment just let me know, thanks

Quentin

Why would the dealer lie?

They need the insurance certificate to tax the car.

Some dealers have an arrangement to get 7 to 10 days free cover through an insurer which gets round this problem, though presumably the garage involved here don't as they would have mentioned it by now.

davidjwest

I know that if I want to tax a car myself I need the proper certificate - not sure if the DVLA/Post Office would take a printed copy off the net, although with their beaureaucracy I wouldn't be surprised if they wouldn't.

taff007

I've bought a couple of cars over the past few years and I've either had to give the dealer my insurance certificate/cover note (which on one occasion I picked up on the way to collect the car and they taxed it there and then), or on the most recent I had to give my details to get the free 7 day driveaway insurance cover they offered. Either way I've need proof of insurance every time.

To get a new tax disc I think you need cover in place, so I guess that's the issue rather than the dealer being awkward.

mrscb

A dealer can use trade insurance to tax cars.

donglemouse

thanks folks, to be clear i wasn't desputing there needs to be some form of insurance to do tax - but i was questioning whether for example the dealer could just use his trade insurance to satisify the insurance requirements (something the dealer insists he can't do)

AdrianHi

My insurance renewed 26th October. My tax disk expires 31st October. Today is the 28th, new insurance certificate posted first class on the 25th.
At the best of times I have a window of about 3 days to get the tax disk as you have to have an insurance certificate valid at the date of the tax disk renewal to do it. Tried with the old certificate 2 days ago and no joy.
Now add postal strike and I'm looking at the car going off the road.
Spoken to Direct Line who say some post offices are being flexible and accepting a faxed confirmation of motor insurance notice to get a tax disk. I have one such fax right beside my keyboard here. I will find out soon if it's going to work.

I am going to get 6 months road tax this time to solve the problem, it's silly having them both together like this.
Wish me luck

Quentin

donglemouse wrote: »

i was questioning whether for example the dealer could just use his trade insurance to satisify the insurance requirements (something the dealer insists he can't do)

Which is correct. (As already asked, why would he lie over this?)

They need the owners certificate, theirs is no use!

Volcano

Quentin wrote: »

They need the owners certificate, theirs is no use!

I bought a 2nd hand car from a dealer and they taxed it for me without seeing my certificate, unless it's different for new cars?

sad_dog_lady

i got mine faxed ...no problem

dacouch

Quentin wrote: »

Which is correct. (As already asked, why would he lie over this?)

They need the owners certificate, theirs is no use!

Some motortraders can get their local Post Office to tax cars on their motor trade certificate. Its not an official agreement but some local post offices do it as a favour to local motor traders. I even have some garages who I have to give an extra copy of their certificate that they leave with their local post office so they do not have to take it in each time.