Tax Disc

[Deleted User]

Joe_Horner wrote: »

There's an exemption for the "obstructions within the swept area" rule for official documents such as tax disks, but until the start of the month the new one is just a piece of paper so wouldn't qualify.

Nether tax discs, nor my parking permit, are ever in the "swept area" of the windscreen.

Wig

Dave_C wrote: »

It would be nice if someone could post the definitive answer.

The definative answer:

VERA 1994
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.

As of today, there is no case law to my knowledge which says that a new disc is "in force" before the start of the month in which it starts. Therefore you have to take the legislation in the way it is written. The disc or one of the discs on display must be "in force" if the vehicle is on the road.

There are, as Lum says, only 2 safe routes through this, you either display both or you swap them at midnight.

rockin_plumber

Wig wrote: »

As of today, there is no case law to my knowledge which says that a new disc is "in force" before the start of the month in which it starts. Therefore you have to take the legislation in the way it is written. The disc or one of the discs on display must be "in force" if the vehicle is on the road..

Rover_Driver wrote: »

If only the new licence is displayed during the 'old' month, the offence is committed because a valid licence is not being displayed.

I am not claiming to be correct in my way of thinking either...

But... If I was to re-tax my vehicle (for 12 months) today that expires on the 31st October 2012 then I would be given a 12 month disc that expires 31st October 2013.

My way of thinking is I am not gaining extra days by putting it in my windscreen early I have paid for this tax disc and it expires 31st October 2013, plus there is less chance of me forgetting in 9 days time.

In my way of thinking that new disc is current, there is no start date just an expiry date in the new tax disc.

If the very same vehicle I was taxing for 12 months had no tax today when I went to tax it, my 12 month tax disc would expire on the 30th September 2013.

I could display it today but I have lost 21 days as I did not have current tax.

If we want to be silly about it, maybe everyone should be at their car at midnight changing the new discs over

Wig

Your current disc has not expired yet, you are being given an opportunity to buy your next disc early, it does not start until 12 months prior to the expiry date.

If you use your argument then an untaxed vehicle that gets a tax disc 2 days in advance from the start of the month can drive around with a tax disc starting 2 days in the future....wrong.

From the back of a V10
"If your vehicle is taxed
You can apply from the 5th day of the month in which your current tax disc
runs out. Your new tax disc will come into force on the first day of the next
month and you should not display it on your vehicle until then. If you apply
by post, you must send a letter explaining why you are applying early.
If you are going to be abroad when your current tax disc runs out, you
can take or post your application up to two calendar months before your
current tax disc runs out to a Post Office® branch that deal with advance
applications. If you apply by post, you must send a letter explaining why
you are applying early.
If your vehicle is not taxed or has a SORN
If you apply in the last two working days of a month, the tax disc can start
on the fi rst day of the next month. If you apply before then, your tax disc will
be backdated to the start of the current month. (Saturday is classed as a
working day at Post Office® branches.)"

Dave_C_2

I emailed this question to the Police Legal Database and received the following answer

In theory the new tax disc is not valid until the first of the month and the old one should be displayed until then. You could display both tax discs together to make sure that you have always got a current tax disc displayed. It is unlikely that it would be a problem just displaying the new one but it is an offence of failing to display a current tax disc so you could get a ticket.

Not exactly the certain answer we are looking for!

It looks like Lum's suggestions (display two discs or change at midnight) are the only 100% safe way.

For those who garage the car or park off road it's not so much a problem, or indeed if you live in an area not infested with Traffic Wardens. Without doubt the main thing is to get the new tax disk on the windscreen on the first of the month.

This could be added to the PNLD FAQ site it is added in the Tax FAQs I'll post back

Dave

Lum

The_Groat_Counter

Much of the discussion on this thread is irrelevant, because as the OP says...

minimad1970 wrote: »

...My car will be left in a hotel car park...

... i.e. the car is not going to be "on a public road", which is the phrase used in the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, as quoted above by Wig.

Wig

The_Groat_Counter wrote: »

Much of the discussion on this thread is irrelevant, because as the OP says...

.. i.e. the car is not going to be "on a public road", which is the phrase used in the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, as quoted above by Wig.

Umm, no, the OP is post #1 who is clearly asking this question which has been answered.

minimad is post #19, I did want to reply to minimad to explain she would not need a disc while in the carpark (subject to carpark T&C), but I never got round to it. As she has apparently bought online will be ok until and including 7th November anyway even if she were not in a car park.