Road Tax start date for new purchase

missymoneypenny

Hi folks, just picked up a vehicle that I purchased yesterday, which is currently taxed and I went online to tax it myself. So the purchase date was the 12th of August but Tax site is saying that it's from the 1st of August. Is this standard? That the road tax would start from the first of the month? That seems a bit unfair since the vehicle is already taxed by the previous owner, and I can't imagine they'll get a refund that goes back to the 1st of August.

I called the DVLA line but they won't open until Monday. It's on my driveway now anyway, and I won't be driving it until after I've clarified the date issue. 

Thank you.

GrumpyDil

That's correct. 

Tax always runs from the first as it is paid and refunded in whole months. The old owner will be refunded from 01/09 and you will need to tax from 01/08.

And yes that does result in the car being in effect, double taxed for a period of time. 

WellKnownSid

Yes, Vehicle Excise Duty ("car tax") is payable for the whole month.  "Road Tax" was abolished before the Second World War I believe. 

Other countries such as Spain charge annually plus you pay a percentage of the car's value just to transfer ownership so you've got off lightly only losing out on 11 days.

As long as you've paid there is no need to call the DVLA - you are safe to drive it.

400ixl

Yes, this is correct that you pay from the start of the month. You are also correct the previous owner can only claim back full months. There is no pro rata of months on either side.

If it is not taxed then it should be declared SORN which is not worth doing for a day or to.

No need to call the DVLA, tax it and enjoy your new purchase.

missymoneypenny

Many thanks everyone, I should have known the buggers would get extra lolly. I wouldn't mind but it's £325 a year anyway, much appreciated.

Car_54

missymoneypenny said:

Many thanks everyone, I should have known the buggers would get extra lolly. I wouldn't mind but it's £325 a year anyway, much appreciated.

So less than £1 a day - you've "lost" about a tenner. How does that compare with the price of the car?