Tax disc will be up for renewal while on holiday.

Baby_Angel

This is my first ever question to MSE forum!
Our car's tax disc is expiring at the end of this month (August 31st) and we have yet to receive the renewal form. We are going on a holiday next week and will be returning on the 2nd of Sept (late evening). When does the tax renewal form normally arrives? Is there a way to pay for the tax disc without the official tax form? If not, would we have to pay any fine/penalties for leaving the car in a public street (cul-de-sac) for the 2 or 3 days in September without paying tax. I would be able to relax if I paid for it before leaving.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.

Nodding_Donkey

You can re tax your car online. If you haven't got the renewal form you can use the document number from your V5.

wba31

Baby_Angel wrote: »

This is my first ever question to MSE forum!
Our car's tax disc is expiring at the end of this month (August 31st) and we have yet to receive the renewal form. We are going on a holiday next week and will be returning on the 2nd of Sept (late evening). When does the tax renewal form normally arrives? Is there a way to pay for the tax disc without the official tax form? If not, would we have to pay any fine/penalties for leaving the car in a public street (cul-de-sac) for the 2 or 3 days in September without paying tax. I would be able to relax if I paid for it before leaving.
Any advise will be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much in advance.

I moved house in March and forgot to send off my V5 to update my address. Subsequent reminder went to my old house and due to my own stupidity forgot to keep on eye on my tax disc.
Former landlord handed me post on July 10 and in it was reminder to buy a new tax disc for July 1. Went to Post Office and sorted out buying a back dates tax disc from July 1 with no issues. No fines have come through the door or anything.

You can buy a tax disc online using the code on the reminder. do you have a family member that can get into your house a few days before 31 august, find the letter, text you the code? You just need to get on wifi and order the disc online. Some may argue that you are then failing to display for 2 days, but Police ANPR checks will show the car HAS been taxed even if the disc is sat on your doormat until you return...

Otherwise take a risk and buy the disc as soon as you get home. I think Police and DVLA are a lot more bothered by those 2/3 months out of date with their road tax than someone 1 or 2 days?

Rover_Driver

wba31 wrote: »

Some may argue that you are then failing to display for 2 days, but Police ANPR checks will show the car HAS been taxed even if the disc is sat on your doormat until you return...

If the licence is renewed on-line or by post, on or before the expiry of the old one, there is 14 days grace period for the offence of failing to display.

PasturesNew

I always do it online. From 31st to the 2nd I'd not worry too much if I knew that the second I got home I was going to rush off down the Post Office to get it ....

Macadamia

In line with the replies already received.

You can tax your car now, online,
https://www.gov.uk/tax-disc
as long as you have (if you need one) a valid MOT and valid insurance.

They post it to you and in my experience it comes quickly. But even if it doesn't arrive before you go away you get an acknowledgement.

A year ago, after being in Europe for some months I rolled off the ferry with a very out of date tax disc. But armed with the online confirmation felt confident there would be no problem.

So - don't sweat. Do it online now.

& Enjoy your holiday.

arcon5

Can't you take your V5, MOT certificate and insurance certificate to a post office and ask them to sort it out. As far as I know you don't actually need the reminder form

Baby_Angel

Had a car only for the last 2 years in the UK, both times renewed with the tax form. Didn't know I could take V5, MOT and Insurance to post office in the absence of the form. Thank you arcon5 for that info.
I will feel at ease if I do it straight away and will give a try online as suggested by Nodding Donkey and the others. I am assuming since it is online, I could do it tonight after work. Failing that, I could get my DH to go to the post office tomorrow armed with all the documents mentioned.
Macadamia - we are going on a well deserved (couldn't afford it before) holiday after several years - want to (and will) enjoy it as much as we can. Thanks.

Thank you to all once again. Wow, didn't expect this many suggestions in such a short time.

DUTR

Rover_Driver wrote: »

If the licence is renewed on-line or by post, on or before the expiry of the old one, there is 14 days grace period for the offence of failing to display.

Do you have a link to the official documentation for the grace periods?
As I have never seen any official note that refers to any grace period for any reason.

Rover_Driver

DUTR wrote: »

Do you have a link to the official documentation for the grace periods?
As I have never seen any official note that refers to any grace period for any reason.

S.33A, Vehicles Excise & Registration Act 1994, as amended by s.188, Finance Act 2013.

BeenThroughItAll

DUTR wrote: »

Do you have a link to the official documentation for the grace periods?
As I have never seen any official note that refers to any grace period for any reason.

Rover_Driver wrote: »

S.33A, Vehicles Excise & Registration Act 1994, as amended by s.188, Finance Act 2013.

Also states same on the VED reminder.