Bought new car - No tax disc, but it's taxed!

davenpearsall

Sounds dodgy I know, but hear me out.

I've bought an ex-police car from a trader that specifically deals with ex-police cars. I noticed on the way home that it had no tax disc so I presumed it was out of tax.

Went to Directgov website when I got home but when I put in reg and document reference from the V5 it says:

Tax class: POLICE
Licence Start Date: 01 04 2010
Taxed until 01 04 2011

A new licence is not due for this vehicle until: 01 04 2011

PLEASE BE AWARE - THERE IS A CURRENT VALID TAX DISC IN FORCE FOR THIS VEHICLE. IF YOU PROCEED, THE DISC THAT WILL BE ISSUED WILL START FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE EXISTING MONTH RATHER THAN THE START OF NEXT MONTH.

If you apply for a tax disc today the Licence Start Date on the tax disc will be: 01 04 2010

Now the DVLA are closed until Monday and I'm completely confused as to whether or not I can drive the car legally or not. I've informed my insurance company of the switch so I'm covered that way but obviously I don't want to get pulled over without a tax disc.

When it does get to Monday I could go to the post office and get a new disc. However because I only bought the car today, and informed my insurance company today I won't have an insurance certificate with the new reg number on. So i don't think I'll even be able to get one them either


Can anyone shed any light in this situation?

Rolandtheroadie

I think (but feel free to shoot me down) that the tax on a police car will be different from a normal vehicle (free perhaps?).
The vehicle has been turned around quick and it's still registered "taxed" as a police car. This will be invalid for your use (and you dont have the disc).
So it wont show up as untaxed on anpr, but to all intents and purposes, it's not taxed.

smitchy73

As far as I know, now when you put a car in for trade-in you are supposed to return the tax disc to dvla for a refund and the new owner has to get a new tax disc, this happened to my mate a few weeks ago when he got his new car, the guy in the garage told him to return his disc for a refund and he had the full new taxdisc on his new car.
I'm getting a new car in a few weeks, and have been told the same thing from my garage, I'm assuming it may be the same with this vehicle, but knowing DVLA they probably take a few weeks to show any change, because I don't think you get a cheque through from them for a few weeks.

smitchy73

Should also add, I work for a government department, we have vehicles but aren't taxed they are crown exempt, but police have to pay for road tax, hence why on a police vehicle there should be a valid tax disc.

ginnersinner

But marked Police vehicles pay 'zero' tax, meaning that now you owe tax on it as it's no longer a Police car. If the trader specialises in selling ex-police cars, how come he didn't fill you in on exactly what the situation is. Not exactly an expert is he! I'm of the opinion that until you buy a tax disc you can't drive it on the road.

davenpearsall

ginnersinner wrote: »

But marked Police vehicles pay 'zero' tax, meaning that now you owe tax on it as it's no longer a Police car. If the trader specialises in selling ex-police cars, how come he didn't fill you in on exactly what the situation is. Not exactly an expert is he! I'm of the opinion that until you buy a tax disc you can't drive it on the road.

Thanks for all the messages guys.

I agree with ginnersinner. Although he turns over an enormous amount of cars he did seem rather lack-luster. However I for one was naive and should have really asked these questions, however I'm a newcomer to the car buying world.

I think I'm going to air on the side of caution for the rest of the weekend and see what the DVLA have to say on Monday. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.

forgotmyname

The tax disc will have been returned, If it was paid for someone will have claimed it back, In a few days it will show your car as not being taxed. Get it taxed ASAP especially if its on the road.

You dont want to find it clamped or towed with a ticket on it.

Mine was from a lease company & showed over 6 months tax, Guy said no tax on it. I taxed it & took 4 days for the system to show the new tax date.

Strangely mine was MOT'd every year, I have MOT info from its 1st birthday and not its 3rd as required.

custardy

davenpearsall wrote: »

Thanks for all the messages guys.

I agree with ginnersinner. Although he turns over an enormous amount of cars he did seem rather lack-luster. However I for one was naive and should have really asked these questions, however I'm a newcomer to the car buying world.

I think I'm going to air on the side of caution for the rest of the weekend and see what the DVLA have to say on Monday. Better to be safe than sorry I suppose.

something to be aware of,if this is like when you buy a motobility car you may not be able to tax it at a post office
i got caught out with this buying from a motability owner,was a right pain having to go to the DVLA office to tax it

Bunter_2

custardy wrote: »

something to be aware of,if this is like when you buy a motobility car you may not be able to tax it at a post office
i got caught out with this buying from a motability owner,was a right pain having to go to the DVLA office to tax it

Yes. This happened to me. I bought a car at an auction and it had an unexpired disabled tax disc. It could not be retaxed at the local post office and I had to travel 20 miles to a DVLA branch.

The disabled tax disc (I found out later) is only valid for the disabled driver. It becomes invalid when sold to a non disabled driver.

prowla

I once drove a car for months without realising that it wasn't taxed when I bought it.
It was only when it was broken into that I noticed the tax disc was gone, and reported it to the police!

Nilrem

re the op, it sounds like the car is currently registered with a special tax class ("Police"), rather like "disabled" tax class, in which case it must be changed back to a normal class if you do not qualify for the exemption/tax class.
You'll most likely need to go down to the DVLA offices (you may be able to do it via post, but it'll take time), with the V5 etc and get it changed back to the normal taxation class for the car.