Car tax confusion...

coinxoperated

Hi all,

My car tax has run out today and I only realised once I had got to my place of work. I've gone online and brought my car tax and keep seeing it mentioned everywhere that I have 5 days to display so I don't need to worry because I have already purchased and ordered it.

I'm a worrier though! So can someone confirm that this is correct? I've tried to contact DVLA but I can't get through :mad:

I'm traveling and parking in a nearby city centre tonight and I'm petrified I'll come back to a clamped car or something!

Thanks

Chopper_Read

Your tax ran out at midnight. Since you didn't renew it before it ran out you don't have five days grace.

coinxoperated

Oh my god!!! So what do I do!? Can I cancel the transaction?!

InsideInsurance

By the strictest letter of the law, or at least how it was the last time I saw it, then you would be breaking the law because the legal requirement is for you to DISPLAY a valid disc

There are two caveats however, firstly no one looks at the discs any more, they just check electronically and itll show you have it. I only realised my disc was 2 years out of date when I went to put in my new disc this time - I bought the other but never put them in. I've been stopped by police (for non-tax related things) and not once was it mentioned.

Secondly, they always used to give you a short grace period of 14 days where you were liable for prosecution but they'd turn a blind eye. Before electronic renewals came in I was stopped and they checked the tax and saw it was 6 days out of date and they just told me off and said I had to renew it "on monday" and that I'd be prosecuted if they caught me after monday.

Dont worry

Aretnap

Don't panic, you are now taxed and while by the letter of the law you have to display the tax disc it would be a very officious cop who gave you a ticket for failure to display a day or two after the old one expired. If you were unlucky and met PC Grumpy on the way home you'd be looking at a small fine (£60 off the top of my head) and no points - not having your car seized and being thrown into the cells.

Chopper_Read

InsideInsurance wrote: »

By the strictest letter of the law, or at least how it was the last time I saw it, then you would be breaking the law because the legal requirement is for you to DISPLAY a valid disc

There are two caveats however, firstly no one looks at the discs any more, they just check electronically and itll show you have it. I only realised my disc was 2 years out of date when I went to put in my new disc this time - I bought the other but never put them in. I've been stopped by police (for non-tax related things) and not once was it mentioned.

Secondly, they always used to give you a short grace period of 14 days where you were liable for prosecution but they'd turn a blind eye. Before electronic renewals came in I was stopped and they checked the tax and saw it was 6 days out of date and they just told me off and said I had to renew it "on monday" and that I'd be prosecuted if they caught me after monday.

Dont worry

£60 ticket for failing to display and te only grace is 5 days if purchased before the old one expired. You need to get up to date.

InsideInsurance

Chopper_Read wrote: »

£60 ticket for failing to display and te only grace is 5 days if purchased before the old one expired. You need to get up to date.

As I say, went 2 years without displaying, stopped by police (random breath test, in a collision with a police car, query of unusual load etc) and non commented on it.

Historically was stopped (not wearing seat belt) and it was expired by 6 days. Their advice then was there was no legal grace period but standard practice was a slapped wrist if less than 14 days.

I hear what you saying about there now being an official grace period, that doesnt automatically mean that the police's practices have changed

Angry_Fanboy

coinxoperated wrote: »

Hi all,

My car tax has run out today and I only realised once I had got to my place of work. I've gone online and brought my car tax and keep seeing it mentioned everywhere that I have 5 days to display so I don't need to worry because I have already purchased and ordered it.

You've bought your car tax, not brought it.

And you're worrying over nothing. As long as you've gone online and taxed the car the chances of anything happening are virtually zero.

forgotmyname

Dont park on the road where traffic wardens/police roam.

Ticket for not displaying at worst.