Dealer taxed car but not showing on DVLC

Hurdler

I bought a second hand car from a dealership this morning and he gave me the proof of taxing the car that morning from the Post Office, but it could take a few days to appear.
In the mean time I have to actually drive the car somewhere tomorrow - the dealer just told me to have the proof that it has been licenced with me, but where I park uses ticketless parking and checks the number-plate and all the details will have only been sent off today.

Just want to check that having the proof that it has been taxed by the dealer is enough to drive it around (and just hope no over-zealous clamper is in operation in the car park!)

Having only had company cars and having bought mine lock stock and barrel when I left, this is actually the first car (used or otherwise) I have ever bought so apologies if this is such a noddy question... it's all a bit new to me!

shaun_from_Africa

Why not give the DVLA a call.

DVLA vehicle tax service
Telephone: 0300 123 4321
24-hour service

Hurdler

For reference for anyone else - Opening hours (they are closed for queries of this nature)
8am-7pm M-T
8am-2pm W/ends

Marvel1

shaun_from_Africa said:

Why not give the DVLA a call.

DVLA vehicle tax service
Telephone: 0300 123 4321
24-hour service

Wrong number, that's to tax it and is an automated service.

The number is 0300 790 6802
https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla/y/vehicle-tax-and-sorn

Save phoning and check online https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

Hurdler

Marvel1 said:

shaun_from_Africa said:

Why not give the DVLA a call.

DVLA vehicle tax service
Telephone: 0300 123 4321
24-hour service

Wrong number, that's to tax it and is an automated service.

The number is 0300 790 6802
https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla/y/vehicle-tax-and-sorn

Save phoning and check online https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

Thanks for the number. The car was taxed by the dealer at the Post Office but it is not showing up online.
As part of the recorded message (of which there are MANY!) there was a message saying that if it had been successfully taxed at the PO or online the car can be driven - which was my worry as I have to park somewhere today which uses ANPR and was worried I'd come back to find it clamped.

Also (as useful reference for anyone else)... I found a dealership forum where they had clarification from the DVLA - as soon as the VED is paid, it is updated on an internal database. If the police believe a car is on the road untaxed, they pass the info to the DVLA who check. However, the public facing website that we use can take up to 5 days to update (I wonder if that is a throwback to the old 5-days grace and remember my old man often sticking a message on the windscreen saying 'tax disc applied for' while he waited for it to be sent!)

Anyway the upshot is... it should be safe to drive and I have the proof that it was taxed and the start date is listed from 1/2/20 (taxed yesterday by the dealer).

haha - I guess we'll find out if I come back and find it clamped!

DoaM

If it's a private car park (which it must be if they're using ANPR, council car parks aren't allowed to) then the ANPR cameras are not linked to the DVLA; they are used purely to record entry and exit times so that the parking company can send a PCN through the post if the allowed "parking" time is exceeded. Not a chance in hell of the car getting clamped on private land - that is illegal.

renegadefm

I thought any new owner has to tax it in their name before being able to legally drive it home. Thats what I had to do before being able to drive my newly owned privately bought car. 

molerat

renegadefm said:

I thought any new owner has to tax it in their name before being able to legally drive it home. Thats what I had to do before being able to drive my newly owned privately bought car. 

Not quite, the vehicle has to be taxed, anyone can do that.  Most dealers will do it for you but buying privately will be different.

born_again

>> If the police believe a car is on the road untaxed, they pass the info to the DVLA who check. <<

But remember that the ANPR roadside vans and police cars are only updated when they are connected to the update, so may get updated once a day if lucky. Not a permanent online connection.