Tax disc online question.

[dave1966]

Hi all.

Ive got a question about appling for a tax disc online. Ive checked DVLA's website regarding appling for a tax disc online and what I would like to pick all your brains about,it says that if you apply for a tax disc you can drive for 5 days until it arrives if its a renewal but it doesnt say (or I cant find the answer on DVLA) if you can drive a motor that has been SORN'ed until the tax disc arrives. So does anyone know,if you can drive a motor until the tax disc arrives within 5 days Im sure someone on here might know the answer to this question. The way I see it,if you apply online for your road tax and the motor is on a SORN this would cancel the SORN,just like when you get the road tax from the post office BUT as usual,I may be thinking wrong though,which is nothing new these days.

[James Bass]

Hi Dave.
My understanding of the law is that for road tax to be valid, it has to be displayed. Thus I would say err on the side of caution and not drive.

EDIT... Found this on a Google search:
http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 057AAb8UMY

[furball]

Once you complete your application and pay for your tax you will show as taxed on the police computer. You should also get an email off the system that shows you have paid for your tax but the 5 day rule applies to the first 5 days of the month only and you are still required to display the disc that has just expired.

While your car is technically taxed I would personally not take the chance and wait for the new disc to arrive, which usually only takes a couple of days when I've used the online system

[RatCav]

I believe post SORN you have to wait until the new one arrives. I beleive you have to have the last tax disk displayed and only if its within 5 days of the run out period. As said I am working from memory from when I imported a car 4 years ago and had to wait for the new disk to arrive even though I had paid the money and technically it was Taxed MOT'ed and Insured. The girl at the DVLA office said the same is for SORN'ed vehicles as thay have to process the application, take it off SORN and then flag it as taxed.

[jimmybhoy]

Dave, i had a tax disc before (expired 3 days) i was stopped by Police in Colchester, they took my old disc & reported me for the expired tax to Swansea. This resulted in me paying the backdated tax (would have done that week anyway, when i was paid) as well as a £60 penalty.....fair enough i suppose. A few hours late,r on the road home A74 Dumfries, i was stopped again (i know how lucky am i) I produced all the relevant documentation from earlier & explained, that, the officer took the old disc. Thats ok was the reply, i will just do you with failing to display a tax disc (B#*^~#%). This was pre sorn , but i would think the law still applies. If you are just driving normally the ANPR will show vehicle as taxed, and will not draw any attention. If however, you get stopped for some other random matter & the police officer is not getting any @ home, he may just take it out on you. As This would be far easier than tackling the housebreaker across the road climbing out the window with the laptop

[Rifleman]

Dave, once you've paid for it online, print off the reciept that you get emailed. This is your proof of purchase and will be accepted if stopped. Once you have paid, it is automatically registered on all computers.
As long as you have this with you, you will be fine. Been there, done it. So has a friend.

[SnortonR]

Well this post is a timely reminder. When I saw it I said to herself 'Have you taxed your car? The answer was something meaning 'NO'. Now when the reminder came in, I said 'I'll do it online'. 'No it's ok I'll do it when we come off holiday; I'll have over a week' she said. I said it'll be here when we get back; done n'dusted.' 'No it's ok I'll do it when we get back'. PAH. So now it's 'Can I do it in the morning?'. 'Not if you take the car' says I, 'The post office won't be open when you leave anyway.' 'So you'll have to take me to work.' There we have it - there was more to this conversation which I'll leave to your imagination; but WHY DO THEY NOT LISTEN TO COMMON PRACTICAL SENSE???

[Rifleman]

BECAUSE THEY'RE FEMALE!!!

[BadBoy]

[lewishilliard]

Did mine on the internet last time, never came had a hell of job getting another one ended up going to DVLA offices to get one girl on end of the phone said it was illegal to drive without a displayed tax disk. ( so how do I get to the DVLA office ?? phone a friend )

on back of the V11

" By Law, you as the registered keeper will not be committing an offence if you tax the vehicle or make SORN within 14 days of the date your current tax disc or SORN runs out " You must keep your vehicle off the road during this time as you will be committing an offence if it is used or kept on the public road "

so what I get from this is if the cops see you without a displayed tax disk they can do as they please

[dave1966]

Thanks guys. You've all told me exactly what I was thinking and if I used my fronty until the tax arrived,I was going to be carrying the email confirmation and receipt with me anyway but if I did I would have to be careful with some of the jobsworth traffic wardens in my area. I had the feeling that it would still be recorded as taxed but I was unsure about it,as it doesnt really tell you much on that side of the tax on dvla's website. Once again thankyou very much guys.

SnortonR,as Keith said they're female but they think us men are stupid.

[dave1966]

lewishilliard,coppers do as they please anyway.

[bigdazz]

once you pay for it online you are taxed as the ANPR SYSTEM IS UPDATED EVERY HOUR SO YES u can drive but print off your confirmation email i have done this many times as my tax for the van lies in the work for a week sometimes before i can get it

[dave1966]

Dazz,that was my thought as long as I had the confirmation email printed off and with me. As the way I look at it,its just like getting the tax from the post office and it cancels the SORN. Dazz,I think you know why Ive put this question up bud.

[bigdazz]

i do mate

[dave1966]

[bigdazz]

i have trade plates drove v6 back from England on them till tension-er failed lol

[dave1966]

Dazz,it was well worth it though,as its a cracker.

[bigdazz]

i mate i must agree things go wrong but i have had plenty help and advise of here and mate so i guess thats what its all about

[dave1966]

Spot on. Ive had my fair share of probs with the 2.4 but its just all wear & tear and its age but it still runs great though.