Why is it not a MOT requirement to have vehicle tax?

B0bbyEwing

Not sure about where you live but around here there's an absolute ton of vehicles on the road with no tax.

Today I saw a van come by my work & you get a vibe for it, you can spot it a mile off. 'checkatrade' phone numbers on the side tend to be a giveaway. More often than not they're missing something.

So it was guess what this guy doesn't have, MOT, insurance, tax, extra points for a double.

Turned out that it was last taxed in 2023 but has been MOTd in that year & each year since. V5C changed in 2020.

Just made me think - why not make it a requirement to have valid tax for a MOT? Sure they could cancel it the next day but they'd have to pay for it at least.

And why aren't all these static cameras equipped to identify vehicles driving around no tax, no MOT, no insurance?

You'd (I'd) think in this day & age it'd just scan all plates, flag anything that shouldn't be on the road & then instant letter to the owner.

uknick

I see where you're coming from, but is it safer for other road users to have a vehicle on the road that is safe to drive but not taxed?

I assume drivers of a certain mindset wouldn't bother to MoT their vehicle if they had to pay the tax just before.

Car_54

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657811/why-is-it-not-a-mot-requirement-to-have-vehicle-tax

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6657811/why-is-it-not-a-mot-requirement-to-have-vehicle-tax

You already need an MOT to tax the vehicle. If you then need tax to get an MOT, everything grinds to a halt.

As for the ANPR cameras, they do indeed write to the keeper (not owner). And the DVLA probably have done so already. But the determined tax avoider doesn't register the car at his address.

EssexExile

"You'd (I'd) think in this day & age it'd just scan all plates, flag anything that shouldn't be on the road & then instant letter to the owner."

I don't think a letter to the owner will have much effect, if the real owner can be established. The police could catch many more drivers without the necessary paperwork but would be accused of ignoring "proper crimes" in favour of "money earners".

Grumpy_chap

It would not work.

You need an MOT to get Vehicle Tax.

If you needed Vehicle Tax to get an MOT that would create a never ending circle of bureaucracy and everything would break..

Ozzig

https://www.gov.uk/report-untaxed-vehicle

There you go.

Aretnap

Can't get an MOT without tax.

Can't get tax without an MOT.

Can't get a chicken without an egg.

Can't get an egg without a chicken.

If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is around to hear it...?

B0bbyEwing

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907692#Comment_81907692

You think that works do you?

Ozzig

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907746#Comment_81907746

Yes.

Car_54

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81907746#Comment_81907746

There are two offences, keeping and using.

The DVLA already know that the keeper is in breach, and will almost certainly have written to him with an out-of-court settlement offer, at what may or may not be his current address.

As for using (assuming the vehicle is on a publicly maintained road), the police most likely have higher priorities. If they do take action, AFAIK that will consist of reporting it to the DVLA as the prosecuting body. See above.

Grey_Critic

I seem to recall a report that in an area of a particulat city that 57% of the vehicles (in daily use) were neither taxed, insured or MOTd.

Those of us that do the right thing despair knowing that with our luck we would get caught and prosecuted.

There was a time when Plod actually patrolled the streets these people would be caught/prosecuted but these days it is all digital. If by chance any MPs read these pages it would be interesting if they could ask the question why nothing is (Apparently) done about it. I would have thought it would be cost effective.