Buying a car with no road tax

CrustyMcMuffin

I did have a search for an answer to this but couldn't find anything.

Anyway, I'm after a second hand car and I'm looking at one this weekend but it has no road tax. It's a private sale so if it all goes through and I buy it there and then, am I covered to drive the car back home and then leave it on my drive until I get the road tax sorted? I'm covered on my other policy for any other car 3rd party so that's not an issue but am unsure about the road tax rules.

Any advice?

philhuff

The car should be SORN'd (Statutory Off Road Notification) if it's not got tax, and shouldn't be used on the roads. If it's not SORN'd, and just not been taxed, you still shouldn't use it on the roads.

The tax issue is unrelated to any insurance issues - you'll need to check your own policy documents to see if you're insured, even without tax. Many policies exclude it, while others don't.

To be absolutely 100% legal, you'll need to tax the car before you drive it away, and make certain your insurance covers you (or buy insurance for the day at a cost of around £8).

CrustyMcMuffin

Thanks for that, I'm not sure if it's SORN'd or just not taxed. From what you're saying if I want to buy the car I should tell him I will buy it, sort out the tax and insurance and then go back and pick it up when all that's sorted?

oldagetraveller

You will need to sort out the insurance before it can be taxed, a valid covernote/certificate is required.
If it's more than 3 years old a valid MOT(you don't mention that) will also be required prior to taxing. This would also be required along with tax & insurance before using legally on the road.

Badger_Lady

I did buy a car without tax a couple of years ago from a dealer - it had a brand new MOT and I arranged insurance before collection. I can't remember exact details, but it was along the lines of "you can drive it home but you must get the tax within 7 days(?) of purchase (according to V5). I think I got the tax using my green slip from the V5.

Don't take my word for it, though - there must be some solid information online about this situation.

m.colak

Personally in this current market when you don't know the person well from whom you are buying the car i believe you can phone up DVLA and ask what the current state of the car is. This is to confirm that it is the car registered to the number plate and not a write off and the state of the tax. The worst thing you can do i buy the car and not know how long it has been since it was taxed as you could find yourself paying the difference since it was last taxed. The easiest option is if you want the car phone DVLA confirm it is legal, get a tow/flatbed to deliver the car to a private parking area (offroad) then go to your posty and register the vehicle as yours if no green slip provided by previous owner. At this point because you are the owner it is legal now to take your car to the garage to get an MOT and road tax on the back of this. Make sure you have insurance from the go though.

Matt:o

unsure

Hi Badger Lady,
If it's any help you can apply for a tax disc on line and the DVLA website is quite helpful about what info you need and where to get it from.

http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/

m.colak

You can only get a tax disc online if you are the regestered owner of the car unfortunately.

dzug

CrustyMcMuffin wrote: »

I'm covered on my other policy for any other car 3rd party so that's not an issue but am unsure about the road tax rules.

Any advice?

You need to double check that 'any other car' bit - it's usually any other car that does not belong to you. By the time you drive it away it will belong to you - so no cover.

Badger_Lady

OK, there are a lot of suggestions coming back here - flatbeds and things are really going to drive up the cost of your purchase!

1) Confirm that it's MOT'd
2) Check the vehicle's status online: http://www.vehiclelicence.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/application;JSESSIONID_EvlPortalApp=H6c4PnLhJtCcQRYwprVCPQGnkX4ybXmj9wPn2TZFT11TTyyYVynL!1353311262!-637996029?origin=vnav_bar.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=Vehicle+Enquiry
3) Give the Vehicle Licence agency a call on 0870 240 0010 to find out definitively what your legal requirements are. As above, I believe there are allowances for new owners, but YOU MUST CHECK.

CrustyMcMuffin

Thanks for all your replies, the car is MOT'd until March, I don't know the vehicle reg as I haven't seen it yet. Going by the advice it's probably not recommended if I agree to buy it there and then so I can get the reg and make the relevant checks then if I want to buy it I can arrange insurance for it.