Help with road tax!

TommyGG

Hello!

I recently bought a car from a 2nd hand dealer (my first car). It has no road tax.

I managed to get them to agree to a full MOT on it (which it passed), I bought full breakdown cover and driving insurance. Then I went to pick it up.

I know that there was no road tax, and that by driving it home and parking it on the road I risk being fined, but I'm OK with that risk whilst I wait 5 days for the tax disc to come through as there wasn't much choice for me.

Anyway I bought the car and am trying to buy a tax disc online now, but on the DVLA website it says that there is a gap in the tax for it and it hasn't been declared SORN which is an offence, and it didn't let me continue to buy the tax disc.

I'm a bit stuck on what could happen now, could I be fined anything? What should I do?

Weird_Nev

You have an untaxed car. You won't be able to tax it online.
I take it you have V5 new keeper supplement, Insurance Cert, and MOT?

Pop down to the post office and tax it face to face tomorrow.
You may find you have to back-date the tax to the date it was last taxed.

Naughty of a dealer to sell it without tax. Always negotiate it as part of the deal, even 6 months to avoid potential hassle and fines.

TommyGG

Hi! Thanks for the reply.

I have a V5C form, a used car invoice, a new MOT certificate good for 1 year and road insurance. Just missing the tax I think!

I'll go down to the post office tomorrow. When I use the DVLA vehicle checker it says:

Date of Liability 01 04 2012

So I guess that's when I might have to back date to? If so I can live with that! I just am worried I'll get fined huge or sent to jail or something, just want to pay my tax and drive my car is all!

Weird_Nev

Yeah, it's been sat on the forecourt for 5 months untaxed by the looks of it.

Speak nicely to the Post office. If you do get a fine through for the dealers incompetence, then inform the DVLA of the cicumstances but don'e expect much sympathy.
FInes are automatic and not that horrific I don't think.

Probably best to back date the tax if the postie lets you, and learn you lesson for next time.

TommyGG

Thanks!

Can the post office issue the disc there and then? Also I don't think I can back date it because my MOT cert was issued today, is this correct or is a lot of it up to the post office chaps themselves?

Weird_Nev

yeah, the post office can literally hand write one for you on the spot provided your documents are up to scratch.

I have no idea re - backdating. I've heard of it being done but I'm not sure of 4-5 months. They might get a bit shirty. Just explain the situation and ask them what is best. Keep the receipt for the tax so you can prove dates to DVLA if you come unstuck in the future.

Tilt

Post office will not issue a tax disc under these circumstances. The seller should not of sold the car (or allowed it to be driven away) without tax. OP should go back to the dealer and get them to sort it out otherwise the OP will need to pay the back-tax before he will get a disc in his own right.

spiro

The DVLA website just says the new buyer just has to go to the Post Office with the relevant section of the log book. As the new owner I cant see there would be an issue with any missing tax. Quickest way to find out is to go there today and see what they say. If they say no, phone the local DVLA office.

lee678

Weird_Nev wrote: »

Yeah, it's been sat on the forecourt for 5 months untaxed by the looks of it.

Speak nicely to the Post office. If you do get a fine through for the dealers incompetence, then inform the DVLA of the cicumstances but don'e expect much sympathy.
FInes are automatic and not that horrific I don't think.

Probably best to back date the tax if the postie lets you, and learn you lesson for next time.

gulp ! no dont do that ! youll get fined ! the outstanding road tax / sorn is the responsibility of the previous owner ! it just wants taxing from the beginning of op ownership ! 5 days ? i beleive ?
you cant tax cars online that arent registered in your name;)
this time next year you will be able to tax your car at tesco, i cant say anymore :silenced:

Rover_Driver

TommyGG wrote: »

Thanks!

Can the post office issue the disc there and then? Also I don't think I can back date it because my MOT cert was issued today, is this correct or is a lot of it up to the post office chaps themselves?

You need to go to a Post Office that issues vehicle licences, with the MOT certificate, insurance certificate, the green 'New Keeper Supplement' part of the V5C, and the necessary fee.

The Post Office will have a form 'V10' (Application for a Tax Disc)

Fill in the form and give it to the clerk with the other documents and the fee, they will give you the licence.

You don't need to back date it because you have just bought the vehicle (I don't think the Post Office can issue back dated licences)

s_b

wow you guys really are giving extremely bad advice to the original poster,only lee 768 understands the true position so i will clarify what with being a dealer an all and quite happy to let some tight person drive away untaxed with the possibility of vehicle being seized by our good ole boyus in blue

op
you have dated sales invoice
your liability starts from here
toddle off to your nearest post office or local dvla office with new keeper supplement
mot
insurance certificate
and some wonga
tax it from the 1st august 2012


will be even easier next year when everything goes online

ps dealer should have registered car in his name after 3 months so if dvla do the paper trail he will get the fine and rightly too for a slack bottom attitude