Free tax but unable to get new disc?

Badger_Lady

Hia,

Bit of a weird one... I'm getting all the financial stuff sorted out ready for a six-month trip round Europe in my 1972 VW campervan.

The MOT and tax are both due while I'm away. So I'll get a new MOT before I go, which will change the date and make sure I'm covered for the whole period.

But what can I do about the tax? It's free (historical vehicle), and of course I won't be on the UK roads during that time. But could I get stung in my absence for failure to SORN/renew, and then for rolling off the ferry when I get back? Is there any way to 'sort it out' in advance?

agrinnall

Can you not get someone to open the renewal letter from the DVLA and either renew it online for you or email you with the reference so you can do it yourself? Obviously you won't be able to get the tax disk sent to you directly but maybe the letter opener could send it on to you at a pre-arranged address in Europe.

Badger_Lady

agrinnall wrote: »

Can you not get someone to open the renewal letter from the DVLA and either renew it online for you or email you with the reference so you can do it yourself? Obviously you won't be able to get the tax disk sent to you directly but maybe the letter opener could send it on to you at a pre-arranged address in Europe.

I'll be renting rooms in my house out to lodgers, but it's a bit much to expect them to sift through my post... hmm, if it's the only way though...

TrickyWicky

You really need to ring the Dishonestly Vicious Lenientless Assistants and find out from them directly what you can do. If you're touring round europe then how the hell is a tax disc supposed to get to you? - They are the ones who should be dealing with things like this daily so they should be able to tell you what to do.

Badger_Lady

Yeah - their website says:

DVLA wrote:

If a UK registered vehicle is taken abroad temporarily, it remains subject to UK law. This means that you as the keeper, must by law make sure that the vehicle stays taxed while it’s overseas. Providing the vehicle has a current MOT certificate and insurance, you’ll be able to tax the vehicle.

... so I guess I might be able to do it online, but that really doesn't help against the offence of "failing to display a valid tax disc", does it?

Seems like such a silly dilemma when I don't even have to pay for it :rotfl:

scheming_gypsy

If you SORN it and then take it off SORN they'll send you a new tax disc (probably)

Badger_Lady

scheming_gypsy wrote: »

If you SORN it and then take it off SORN they'll send you a new tax disc (probably)

Aah, but...

DVLA wrote:

SORN can’t be made while the vehicle is abroad

scheming_gypsy

do it before you go. so if you go away in May and the tax expires in July, SORN it in April and then re-tax it. So you get it taxed from April / May for a year.

Lum

So do it now, rather than while you're away. Then you'll have 12 months tax.

Plus for a campervan which is likely to see use in the summer, having the tax due in January or February will avoid this problem in future years as well.

Limey

You can tax the vehicle 2 months before it expires if that helps.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_4022052

EcoR1

Why not SORN it the day you leave and tax it when you get back? A vehicle can be SORNed and taxed.