DVLA is screwing us again

regprentice

Colleague of mine bought a car on Saturday (new). The car had no tax disc but he was told that under the new electronic system he had 14 days grace from the date of purchase (registration) to buy one.

Can see a similar system being put in place for 2nd hand purchases... this would 'encourage' proper completion and return of the new owner v5 slip as you would want to obtain your tax refund for the remainder of the year.

Edit - from page 4 of 'transition of DVLA local office services'

New legislation has been introduced to allow a new vehicle which has been registered and licensed to be driven for up to 14 calendar days from the date of first registration without displaying a tax disc.

motorguy

Prothet_of_Doom wrote: »

So, when you go to buy a new car, (privately), how do you all get it home legally now ?

I pay a small deposit, go home, sort out the insurance, and go and pick it up the next day. If it's not taxed, I (pre) book it into an MOT somewhere on route, (getting an appointment card with date on it), and drive it legally without tax.

You drive it home, and tax it as soon as possible. As long as you're back taxing it to cover from when you buy it theres no problem.

It happens that way currently. Buy car, drive it home, tax as soon as you can. Where people tend to get caught out is when they try to be smart and buy the car say, on the 20th and tax it from the start of the next month, but have been spotted by plod or a DVLA camera in the meantime.

Norman_Castle

Our VED system is very complicated. If we introduced a simpler system we might be able to spend less on administration and more on the roads.

Or on the thousands of other things money gathered through vehicle taxation is spent on. See below for a quote from your government.

Trebor16

Joe_Horner wrote: »

Don't forget that on each transfer the new keeper will also have to pay for tax from the START of the month.

So every sale will net the Government a full month of extra tax, split between the seller and buyer depending on when in the month the sale happens.

That's no different to the system now. If you have to buy a tax disc in the middle of the month it always starts at the start of the month you buy it in.

fivetide

Moto2 wrote: »

I'd simplify the whole system by tying it in with the MOT, you get your MOT done and have to pay the VED at the same time, as it works out a lot of people do this anyway as the dates invariably collide.
New cars would have to have 3 yrs VED added to their cost.

I'm sure I haven't thought that out properly but it's only 7am

What about a German system where you buy your plate each year and take that with you from car to car.

You have to pay by direct debit each month so you are always up to date.

Not sure how they work it out mind or what happens if you move from a Smart car to a Ferrari in terms of tax levels but certainly an interesting system.

Manufacturers/dealers would have a dilemma though. It would flatten sales out across the year but kill off the big bumps they have around getting the latest plate.

[Deleted User]

Surely after buying a car you can just stop off at the post office on the way home and pay your tax using the new keeper slip. You don't need to show an insurance certificate at the post office now.

To be honest I'd rather this of having to buy tax every time you buy a car with the old owner being refunded. It will stop scammers trying to sell cars with tax only to cancel it once you part with your money and drive off.

peter_the_piper

You buy a car from Stan, down the road, it still has tax. You drive it home and he claims tax back at same time as sending in docs, meantime you have legally driven it home. If I have understood it correctly then I don't see any problem.

Andy_L

missile wrote: »

I doubt that will happen. That would be a political hot potato.

The cost of fuel and especially diesel is already higher than any other EU country.

Diesels cheaper, except for Italy. Unleaded is far more comparable, were about 5th, however its so close that its very sensitive to euro/sterling exchange rate fluctuations.

http://www.theaa.com/resources/Documents/pdf/motoring-advice/fuel-reports/december2013.pdf

In a UK/euro haulage comparison fuel price is only part of the story - what about corporation tax rates & employee costs which, AIUI, are higher in the Euro zone

whatmichaelsays

missile wrote: »

The cost of fuel and especially diesel is already higher than any other EU country.

No it isn't: http://www.theaa.com/resources/Documents/pdf/motoring-advice/fuel-reports/december2013.pdf

Trebor16

whatmichaelsays wrote: »

No it isn't: http://www.theaa.com/resources/Documents/pdf/motoring-advice/fuel-reports/december2013.pdf

Diesel is more expensive in Norway (not an EU member) and Italy according to the link. Seven countries are more expensive for unleaded than the UK with Finland being virtually identical.