Taxing a car with V5 at the post office

rubberduck · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:02

Hi

I need to tax a car on Saturday at the post office. At that point I will have an MOT certificate, the V5 registration document and insurance cover (but no certificate). My understanding is that the post office do not need a insurance certificate in order to tax the car but what I want to know is if they check the DVLA database to make sure the car is insured. The reason I ask is because with my insurance starting at 00:00 on saturday morning the database will most likely not have been updated and thus may show that I am uninsured should they check.

Anyone know the procedure?

q6600 · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:05

I tax my car only with v5 at the post office, they did not ask about insurance or mot. Not sur if they will check for your insurance.

Zefan · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:07

The last time I went to the Post Office they asked me for proof of insurance. Maybe I just look dodgey or something

Swordfish · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:10

Always needed MOT, V5 & Insurance.

I do it on-line now. So much easier.

EDIT:
According to this http://www.postoffice.co.uk/vehicle-tax you don't need the Insurance.

q6600 · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:11

Swordfish said:
Always needed MOT, V5 & Insurance.

I do it on-line now. So much easier.

For online renewal yes at the post office only v5.

Bug One · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:16

Every time I've done it at the post office, I've had to show MOT and insurance.

However, that is some number of years ago, as I have done it online since that option was available.

Zefan · 19 Feb 2014 at 22:18

They asked me for it when I went in just over a month ago!

Canary Wundaboy · 19 Feb 2014 at 23:48

Do it online, much faster and more convenient.

Camalot · 20 Feb 2014 at 04:09

Law has recently changed, you don't need to bring insurance to post office, just mot and v5.

You will be fine I did it 2 days ago.

Richie · 20 Feb 2014 at 06:57

You dont need to take your MOT either as this is all stored centrally.

Zefan · 20 Feb 2014 at 07:35

How recently was this? I'm aware I could probably find it on google, but I trust the OcUK massive more.

If it's been more than a month I will not go and have words with the useless post office staff, but I probably should.

rubberduck · 20 Feb 2014 at 10:37

Richie said:
You dont need to take your MOT either as this is all stored centrally.

Yes, but what happens if I try to tax it on the day my insurance starts and the day it passed the MOT. Surely the DVLA database will not have been updated that quickly right?

starfighter · 20 Feb 2014 at 16:09

Just do it online. On a phone if you have to. The DVLA will know if it is insured and MOTd. Just need the V5 number and numberplate.

Richie · 20 Feb 2014 at 18:45

rubberduck said:
Yes, but what happens if I try to tax it on the day my insurance starts and the day it passed the MOT. Surely the DVLA database will not have been updated that quickly right?

Dont know about insurance but I know that the MOT database is updated in seconds. Been there taxing a car without an MOT which was being done at the garage as I waited. Phoned the garage and they had just passed the car and the system allowed the taxing to proceed where, previously, it had "COMPUTER SAYS NO" minutes before.

Camalot · 21 Feb 2014 at 05:43

I taxed my car litrally minutes after coming off phone to insure it 9am Monday morning.

Was fine.

Bat · 21 Feb 2014 at 08:10

I also did it last week with just green tear off new keeper slip from V5. MOT and insurance was checked on their system, and had only just happened.

HeX · 21 Feb 2014 at 10:36

Just do it online, it's like a 5min job.

Cosimo · 21 Feb 2014 at 10:47

Swordfish said:
Always needed MOT, V5 & Insurance.

I do it on-line now. So much easier.

EDIT:
According to this http://www.postoffice.co.uk/vehicle-tax you don't need the Insurance.

Only need to show Insurance in Northern Ireland:

https://www.gov.uk/tax-disc

sigma · 21 Feb 2014 at 10:57

I taxed a car at the beginning of Feb and had all my papers but the PO lady didn't even look at them, just scanned the V5.

Never had this happen before and it's a far better way to do things, the joys of things catching up with the modern age

Camalot · 21 Feb 2014 at 18:15

Yes they just scan the v5 or the section 10 if its a new car.

I normally do online but it was a car I just bought so you can't use the online service until you have the full v5 otherwise you risk the disk being sent to previous owners address.