Changing cars and tax disc expiry question

[Hawkpie]

Hello

Getting a new car on the 1st April and the tax for this car starts on that date.

However, the tax disc on my current car expires on the day before. (ie the 31st March)

Where do I stand legally if I get stopped on the way down to pick the new car up?

Don't really want to have to renew the tax disc on my current car only to use it for a single day.

This must happen quite a lot with people choosing to get a new car at the start of the month in order to maximise the tax disc, but just wondered what would happen if I got pulled over.

Cheers
pie

 

[smokey]

You get 2 weeks grace on the tax disc before the law comes a hunting.

But a quick google come up with...

One of the most misunderstood parts of the UK Registration system is the so-called "two weeks grace" when the current years tax disc has expired. The DVLA say you have two weeks grace, the Police say you haven't. They are both right, for they are talking about different things.

All tax discs date from the first of the month and the DVLA allows you to purchase a disc anytime from two weeks before to two weeks after the first of the month. But note that if your vehicle is not currently taxed you can only buy a new disc three days before the start of the month, and not two weeks.

However!

The Police are quite likely to prosecute you if your vehicle is on the public highway and not displaying a current tax disc. "It's in the post" may not always work.

You see, the DVLA are talking about their rules that relate to the purchase of a disc, whereas the Police are talking about the laws that relate to the use of a vehicle.

I think it's your call on this one!

 

[Hawkpie]

cheers for the info.

it's a bit of a weird one as I guess a lot of people must be in the same situation if their tax is running out just as they are getting a new car, so they organise the taxing of the new car to start when the last one expires.