Got in late tonight,missed the post office and my tax runs out tonight.I wont be able to get it till one tomorrow afternoon,do any of you guys know if i should risk going to work tomorrow.I Know its only one day but i suppose i can still be nicked.Thanks Moggy :-/ :y

Yep you can always take a risk, but what if the worst happens?

No, I would just make getting that road tax disc a number one priority for tomorrow. :y :y

Once you could get away with no tax on your car for a day or two, but now with ANPR and the rest..................not worth it!! ;) ;)

do it online. job done.

tidla wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:22:

do it online. job done.

Hi Tapper888 if i do it now am i leagal tomorrow :-/ :y

Dont worry about it! you have 14 days from expiry to either SORN it or tax it. I ALWAYS wait till the 14th day before I do either :y

well my company have lost the tax disc to my company car..although car is taxed it hasnt got a valid disc..well i was driving it as i forgot tax was expired and i was pulled over in a speed trap and was told in know uncertain terms if car was seen on the road again I would get fine and I would get points...for no tax??..well specfic offence is failure to display valid disc :y

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:31:

Dont worry about it! you have 14 days from expiry to either SORN it or tax it. I ALWAYS wait till the 14th day before I do either :y

I don't believe that for a minute. Show me the proof.

moggy wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:25:

tidla wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:22: do it online. job done. Hi Tapper888 if i do it now am i leagal tomorrow :-/ :y

Yes you are moggy. Just keep the receipt you will recieve by email.

Broocie is online. Tell us Broocie, is it right that you'll get away with it for 14 days?

On many occasions I have taken great pleasure from driving around for at least a month after the tax expires before renewing, just to get my own back on the b*stards.
Although that was in the days before SORN when you could just state on the application form when the car was last used on the road ;)

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:31:

Dont worry about it! you have 14 days from expiry to either SORN it or tax it. I ALWAYS wait till the 14th day before I do either :y

Not quite true....

You do get a 'grace' period to display the disk......but it is 5 working days AND the tax disk must have been bought online before the current one expires....so as STMO/tapper said.....buy it online tonight.....and its fine....just remember to shove it in the car asap when it tuns up  :y

mine runs out tonight..still haven't recieved the v11..can't find the log book.. :'(

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:39:

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:31: Dont worry about it! you have 14 days from expiry to either SORN it or tax it. I ALWAYS wait till the 14th day before I do either :y I don't believe that for a minute. Show me the proof.

I cant be arsed, but You have to tax it or sorn it within 14days or DVLA  will get excited. I have seen it on their website somewhere :)

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:42:

Broocie is online. Tell us Broocie, is it right that you'll get away with it for 14 days?

Its coming up 5 years since my last shift so things always change.....

It certainly used to be the 14 days in the good/bad old days when you did such things via the post.  Now that its online and at local Post Offices, I recall 5 days.

Either way, if its taxed tomorrow, that makes it valid for tomorrow.  Worst case is a fail to display and, if stopped, you have all your paperwork with you for stopping at the PO on the way home?

Road Tax is a civil offence so no points on your licence.   ;)

or, as said, do it online now and print out the time/dated receipt for display on the screen meantime.   :y

From the DVLA webpage...

When you apply for a tax disc online or by using our phone service you are able to legally continue to drive your vehicle for up to 5 days after the tax disc has expired while you wait for the new tax disc to arrive. This will only apply when you have applied for a new tax disc before the current one expires. You should continue to display the expired disc on your vehicle, until the new one arrives.

As stated above, the grace period is now 5 days and only if taxed online before the current one expires :y

Don't care what anyone says, that is the law as it stands and anything else is down to the officer who stops you ;) Bear in mind that the offence is, as stated, failing to display and that there are many Road Tax Checks done now with ANPR cameras ;)

Me... I'd just do it online tonight and make sure I put it in when it arrives :y :y

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:48:

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:39: Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:31: Dont worry about it! you have 14 days from expiry to either SORN it or tax it. I ALWAYS wait till the 14th day before I do either :y I don't believe that for a minute. Show me the proof. I cant be arsed, but You have to tax it or sorn it within 14days or DVLA  will get excited. I have seen it on their website somewhere :)

Of course you can't be arsed, it's not true. And to ill-advise a member who may take you at your word is not on.

"Tax in post" always worked well for me.....back in the day. As did "Doctor on call"...... ;D ;D ;)

Opti wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:09:

"Tax in post" always worked well for me.....back in the day. As did "Doctor on call"...... ;D ;D ;)

Yep... I've done the "Awaiting Documents" trick in the past but it's never going to work in this modern day when they already know the registered keeper and how long it's been registered to that person before they even stop it :y

Read this. you have 14 days to tax or sorn the car after the tax expires before you are prosecuted . 


http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_069671

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:34:

Read this. you have 14 days to tax or sorn the car after the tax expires before you are prosecuted .  http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/HowToTaxYourVehicle/DG_069671

Eh BV? :( :( :(

No, re-read this:

"MOT or insurance has expired

If you intend to renew your vehicle tax you should do so before your current tax disc expires. However, this isn’t always possible if you are waiting for insurance or getting an MOT for your vehicle.

You’ll be committing an offence if you use or keep your vehicle on the public road without a current tax disc. If you can’t get a tax disc, you must remove your vehicle off the road.

You’ll have 14 days to get a tax disc or make a SORN, while your vehicle is off the road"

;) ;)

Stop talking shite and read it properly.

MOT or insurance has expired
If you intend to renew your vehicle tax you should do so before your current tax disc expires. However, this isn’t always possible if you are waiting for insurance or getting an MOT for your vehicle.

You’ll be committing an offence if you use or keep your vehicle on the public road without a current tax disc. If you can’t get a tax disc, you must remove your vehicle off the road.

You’ll have 14 days to get a tax disc or make a SORN, while your vehicle is off the road.

The important bit of the 14 days thaaaang is that the vehicle is kept off the road.   ;)

The 5 days thingy is a bar to prosecution whilst on the road....  :y

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:39:

Stop talking shite and read it properly. MOT or insurance has expired If you intend to renew your vehicle tax you should do so before your current tax disc expires. However, this isn’t always possible if you are waiting for insurance or getting an MOT for your vehicle. You’ll be committing an offence if you use or keep your vehicle on the public road without a current tax disc. If you can’t get a tax disc, you must remove your vehicle off the road. You’ll have 14 days to get a tax disc or make a SORN, while your vehicle is off the road.

Blimey, there is a terrible echo in here Steve! ::) ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;)

Yeah, so it was off the road, Honest!  In reality as long as you tax the car from the date it expired at some point before you get caught then all is well :y

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:44:

Yeah, so it was off the road, Honest!  In reality as long as you tax the car from the date it expired at some point before you get caught then all is well :y

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Not many plod round here, I'll try six months. God help us.

Locally police aren't interested before 28 days, as that is when the DVLA officially inform them that the vehicle license is over due rather than a bit late. I believe that the reasoning is if you forgot to tax your car then it would be done within a week or so, a month or over would be willful avoidance.

I know of someone who was reported directly to a police officer and the above was their response.

Said person did somehow manage to 'find' his tax disc on day 27. >:( barsteward.

As stated 'failure to display' is a separate offence to 'failure to license'. Not getting a tax disc could see you hit with both charges. :-/

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:47:

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:44: Yeah, so it was off the road, Honest!  In reality as long as you tax the car from the date it expired at some point before you get caught then all is well :y ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Not many plod round here, I'll try six months. God help us.

May well be worth the the risk, anyone who believes their car will be crushed and they will recieve a 2500 pound fine deserves to have their car crushed and a 2500 pound fine ;) sorry no pound sign on this keyboard :(

taxi al wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:50:

.......Not getting a tax disc could see you hit with both charges. :-/

In my experience, not so.

Termed as 'two bites of the cherry'.  You cannot be done for failing to display something you do not have.   :)

The burning question is.. why the feck dont they put car tax on the price of petrol? and sod all this dvla boll0cks :-?

hotel21 wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:56:

taxi al wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:50: .......Not getting a tax disc could see you hit with both charges. :-/ In my experience, not so. Termed as 'two bites of the cherry'.  You cannot be done for failing to display something you do not have.   :)

So, if you don't have ins and MOT, you can't be done for failing to produce?

I still see former colleagues going around with The Clampetts and having untaxed cars hooked away.

Strange thing is, in Scotland, clamping is unlawfull as regards parking offences etc.  VEL avoidance whilst on the public road, however, is fair game.  ;D

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:59:

hotel21 wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:56: taxi al wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:50: .......Not getting a tax disc could see you hit with both charges. :-/ In my experience, not so. Termed as 'two bites of the cherry'.  You cannot be done for failing to display something you do not have.   :) So, if you don't have ins and MOT, you can't be done for failing to produce?

Exactly.  You cannot produce what you do not have - but you will get nicked for failing to have it/them....  :)

hotel21 wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 20:00:

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:59: hotel21 wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:56: taxi al wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:50: .......Not getting a tax disc could see you hit with both charges. :-/ In my experience, not so. Termed as 'two bites of the cherry'.  You cannot be done for failing to display something you do not have.   :) So, if you don't have ins and MOT, you can't be done for failing to produce? Exactly.  You cannot produce what you do not have - but you will get nicked for failing to have it/them....  :)

In our local rag, where everyone from the mags court get a mench, it usually says 'No separate penalty for failing to produce'. It doesn't say that they were not charged with that offence.

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:59:

..... you can't be done for failing to produce?

Back in the day, an HO/RT/1 pad (a 7 day 'producer' pad) would last me a week or two when at my busiest.

Latterly, with the introduction of the availability of drivers records direct from the DVLA mainframe then the insurance databse on PNC and then the MOT database on PNC, the need for producers fell rapidly.

It was only high days and holidays that I needed them after that....

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 20:03:

In our local rag, where everyone from the mags court get a mench, it usually says 'No separate penalty for failing to produce'. It doesn't say that they were not charged with that offence.

Probably meaning that they were rattled for the no insurance/MOT/licence already...

moggy wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:18:

Got in late tonight,missed the post office and my tax runs out tonight.I wont be able to get it till one tomorrow afternoon,do any of you guys know if i should risk going to work tomorrow.I Know its only one day but i suppose i can still be nicked.Thanks Moggy :-/ :y

you've had 3 weeks or more to renew your car tax, why not do it sooner?

Danny wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 20:39:

moggy wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:18: Got in late tonight,missed the post office and my tax runs out tonight.I wont be able to get it till one tomorrow afternoon,do any of you guys know if i should risk going to work tomorrow.I Know its only one day but i suppose i can still be nicked.Thanks Moggy :-/ :y you've had 3 weeks or more to renew your car tax, why not do it sooner?

Sorry, your Worship. ;D

you should be allright so long as you do it tommorrow,how about take all your docs to re-new to work,then if police do pull at least you can show them you do intend to do it!! plus its only 1st tommorow not the 18th or something then you are taking the michael in there eyes.

wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 20:40:

Danny wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 20:39: moggy wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 18:18: Got in late tonight,missed the post office and my tax runs out tonight.I wont be able to get it till one tomorrow afternoon,do any of you guys know if i should risk going to work tomorrow.I Know its only one day but i suppose i can still be nicked.Thanks Moggy :-/ :y you've had 3 weeks or more to renew your car tax, why not do it sooner? Sorry, your Worship. ;D

;D ;D only askin!!

You must always show a valid tax disc. The only exception is a five day grace if bought online before the tax run out. End of. Anybody claiming any other bollox is talking from their windpipe.

This means the car must be permenently taxed.


With the massive take-up of ANPR, which can automatically, quickly check the tax status, you need to buy your tax online before midnight, or not use the car until you have the disc in your grubby mits.

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:58:

The burning question is.. why the feck dont they put car tax on the price of petrol? and sod all this dvla boll0cks :-?

it helps keep the crap of the streets. without the disc system somebodys old knacker could be parked outside your house for many a month. (until you and a mate drag it round the corner)

tidla wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 22:15:

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:58: The burning question is.. why the feck dont they put car tax on the price of petrol? and sod all this dvla boll0cks :-? it helps keep the crap of the streets. without the disc system somebodys old knacker could be parked outside your house for many a month. (until you and a mate drag it round the corner)

Until recently it was a way of (almost) enforcing cars were MOT'd and insured.  Obviously less important now, but a significant funding source

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:58:

The burning question is.. why the feck dont they put car tax on the price of petrol? and sod all this dvla boll0cks :-?

Couple of reasons, the major one being cost.  Last time I was involved in a DVLA/Police VEL consultation process it was explained that it would increase the cost of fuel (talking 5+ years ago now...) by a factor of 2.5 to 3 which would elevate todays circa £5 gallon to £12.50 or £15.  And thats without the Gov't adding anything else in the budget.

And, as said by others, it is one method of ensuring that insurance and car roadworthieness is correct at least once per year.

And you could bet that the incidence of fuel thefts would go through the roof virtually overnight!

And cut fuel lines, and screwdrivers through fuel tanks etc etc etc.....   ::)

A Tax Disc is just a piece of paper in the window now due to the use of ANPR at roadsides as well as in enforcement vehicles.

TheBoy wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 21:42:

You must always show a valid tax disc. The only exception is a five day grace if bought online before the tax run out. End of. Anybody claiming any other bollox is talking from their windpipe. This means the car must be permenently taxed. With the massive take-up of ANPR, which can automatically, quickly check the tax status, you need to buy your tax online before midnight, or not use the car until you have the disc in your grubby mits.

if its done online before midnight the OP will save a fiver as well,disc prices go up with inflation rise april 1st

The thing that would worry me more is the fact the insurance company could void ya insurance if it was involved in an accident while it was untaxed  :-/

Thanks to all you guys for your advice and comments,did it on line last night.Always like to be legal :) :y

moggy wrote on 01. Apr 2011 at 14:06:

Thanks to all you guys for your advice and comments,did it on line last night.Always like to be legal :) :y

snap.....found my log book mixed in with my daughters college stuff??? did it last night on line  :y :y :y

moggy wrote on 01. Apr 2011 at 14:06:

Thanks to all you guys for your advice and comments,did it on line last night.Always like to be legal :) :y

Its not so much that warm feeling of being legal, its just the system is (possibly rightly, but thats another discussion) one sided, if you don't comply, you're in the wrong. And with electronics and computers making the decisions, not Police Officers, its very black and white...

I agree TB but i would be a lot happier,and a lot of others.If everyone in the uk had a full driving licence,mot,and tax.Obviously in an ideal world :) :y

hotel21 wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 22:24:

Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:58: The burning question is.. why the feck dont they put car tax on the price of petrol? and sod all this dvla boll0cks :-? Couple of reasons, the major one being cost.  Last time I was involved in a DVLA/Police VEL consultation process it was explained that it would increase the cost of fuel (talking 5+ years ago now...) by a factor of 2.5 to 3 which would elevate todays circa £5 gallon to £12.50 or £15.  And thats without the Gov't adding anything else in the budget. And, as said by others, it is one method of ensuring that insurance and car roadworthieness is correct at least once per year. And you could bet that the incidence of fuel thefts would go through the roof virtually overnight! And cut fuel lines, and screwdrivers through fuel tanks etc etc etc.....   ::) A Tax Disc is just a piece of paper in the window now due to the use of ANPR at roadsides as well as in enforcement vehicles.

That is utter crap. At todays prices someone doing 10000 miles a year at 30 mpg would have to pay a max 15 pence a litre extra in order to compensate for 250 quid a year road tax. We are being conned!!

Car duties are one thing, lorries quite another. As is their fuel consumption.

Never said I agreed with it, just quoting wot wos quoted. 

Try the sums again with an extra zero or two on the mileage and the consumption dropped considerably into wagon units......     :y 

Bent valve wrote on 01. Apr 2011 at 18:14:

hotel21 wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 22:24: Bent valve wrote on 31. Mar 2011 at 19:58: The burning question is.. why the feck dont they put car tax on the price of petrol? and sod all this dvla boll0cks :-? Couple of reasons, the major one being cost.  Last time I was involved in a DVLA/Police VEL consultation process it was explained that it would increase the cost of fuel (talking 5+ years ago now...) by a factor of 2.5 to 3 which would elevate todays circa £5 gallon to £12.50 or £15.  And thats without the Gov't adding anything else in the budget. And, as said by others, it is one method of ensuring that insurance and car roadworthieness is correct at least once per year. And you could bet that the incidence of fuel thefts would go through the roof virtually overnight! And cut fuel lines, and screwdrivers through fuel tanks etc etc etc.....   ::) A Tax Disc is just a piece of paper in the window now due to the use of ANPR at roadsides as well as in enforcement vehicles. That is utter crap. At todays prices someone doing 10000 miles a year at 30 mpg would have to pay a max 15 pence a litre extra in order to compensate for 250 quid a year road tax. We are being conned!!

And someone doing  3000 in a car doing 30mpg would pay what 45 pence a litre extra :question How do the pumps know how many miles a year you do to "compensate" for the duty you HAVE to pay :-? :-?