How early can i display my road tax?

neilmcl

Hintza wrote: »

But in this day and age i really should not be an issue, they know whether it is taxed or not. If someone picks you up on it they are just being a jobsworth or they work for a private parking company and are trying to scam you.

Whether they know or not that your car is taxed it's still an offence not to display a valid tax disc.

Tremour-88

You have to let the old disc run out first, if you put in a new disc before the old one expires you can be done for not displaying a valid disc.

Once your older disc runs out you get 3-5 days grace (IF you've brought a new disc) in which to change over your discs

marlot

neilmcl wrote: »

Whether they know or not that your car is taxed it's still an offence not to display a valid tax disc.

Yes, by the letter of the law, but there is no way it would get to court.

In theory, as the old one expires at midnight, and the new one is valid from midnight you need to be in the car to swap them over at the right instant, or display both.

I happily put the new tax disk in the tax disk holder when it arrives. I've never had a problem in more than 25 years, including areas with the most jobsworth of jobsworths. (eg. I did get a ticket for parking facing the wrong way at night, in a residential street in the middle of a whole long line of cars).

dggar

marlot wrote: »

In theory, as the old one expires at midnight, and the new one is valid from midnight you need to be in the car to swap them over at the right instant, or display both.

.

Not correct,
see post #13. there is a period of grace. See your form V11 (The following applies to a car needing a new tax disk from March 2012)

You can pay by debit card or credit card. There is a £2.50 fee for paying by credit card, but no fee for paying by debit card. You will have an extra five working days to display your old tax disc if you tax your vehicle online or by phone on or before 29 Feb 2012.

marlot

dggar wrote: »

Not correct,
see post #13. there is a period of grace. See your form V11 (The following applies to a car needing a new tax disk from March 2012)

You can pay by debit card or credit card. There is a £2.50 fee for paying by credit card, but no fee for paying by debit card. You will have an extra five working days to display your old tax disc if you tax your vehicle online or by phone on or before 29 Feb 2012.

Yes, you're right, and I was out of date.

I've just checked the legislation, which changed in the 2008 Finance act, and now says: "A person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (1A) by using or keeping a vehicle on a public road during any of the 5 working days following the time when a licence or nil licence for the vehicle, or a relevant declaration applying to the vehicle, ceases to be in force, if an application for a licence or nil licence for or in respect of the vehicle to run from that time has been received before that time."

So as long as you have applied for/bought the new tax disk before the old one expires, you have up to 5 days after the old one expires to swap them over.

Wig

You're all wrong, well most of you are, and the direct gov text is badly worded as usual. They expect people will remove the valid one, so they say it like that.

There is nothing illegal about diplaying *both* before/after expiry because at all times you will be displaying "a valid tax disc" so you cannot be done for "not displaying a valid tax disc"

anotherbaldrick wrote:

The information on the counterfoil attached to the new license gave you the answer to your question.

Why, what does it say? For those of us who have not just renewed.


33 Not exhibiting licence.
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a)he uses, or keeps, on a public road a vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is chargeable, and

(b)there is not fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in the manner prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State a licence for, or in respect of, the vehicle which is for the time being in force.

ilovelacoste

wazza wrote: »

My road tax is due end of this month. Have already got the new one. I usually display it on the night the old one expires.

Was wondering what happens if i was to display the new one now?

i always buy mine early and always pop it straight in the window infront of the old one, never had any problems as long as you are displaying it i cant see the harm:)

Wig

ilovelacoste wrote: »

i always buy mine early and always pop it straight in the window infront of the old one, never had any problems as long as you are displaying it i cant see the harm:)

When you say "infront of the old one" you don't mean covering the old one up in the same holder do you?

If that is what you are doing then you are not displaying the valid one so you leave yourself open to a penalty.

anotherbaldrick

Wig wrote: »

You're all wrong, well most of you are, and the direct gov text is badly worded as usual. They expect people will remove the valid one, so they say it like that.

There is nothing illegal about diplaying *both* before/after expiry because at all times you will be displaying "a valid tax disc" so you cannot be done for "not displaying a valid tax disc"

Why, what does it say? For those of us who have not just renewed.


33 Not exhibiting licence.
(1)A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a)he uses, or keeps, on a public road a vehicle in respect of which vehicle excise duty is chargeable, and

(b)there is not fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in the manner prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State a licence for, or in respect of, the vehicle which is for the time being in force.

It says precisely what Mikey72 quoted in his post.

paddedjohn

i think i covered it in post #3