ROAD TAX question/problem.

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ok, here's the thing.
i've forgotten to pickup a tax disc before the end of the month so, in a bit of a panic, i renewed it online last night.
now the website says i may have to wait upto five working days so, in short, here's my question.
can i be "done" for no road tax even though technically i've paid my dues i just do not have the actual disc in my posession?
i'm fairly sure the offence is to not have a disc on display but i was wondering if i display the printed receipt on the dash whenever the car is left on the road that it'd be recognised as proof?

any relevant info welcome.
thnks.
 
You are right in saying the police can do you for failure to display tax even if you have a tax disc. The best thing you can do is find alternative transport for a few days.

Put a sign in the window "Tax in post"

;)
 
I risked it tbh, the tax disc was ordered a week before it was due and it STILL arrived after the other had expired :rolleyes:

The police have on-board tax checkers now-a-days and carrying a receipt should suffice BUT if you get stopped it would depend on how anal the cop is as it is still illegal..
 
Failure to display is a seperate offense afaik when compared to no tax disc at all. So if you're not displying the correct tax disc you can be done (fined etc.). On the other hand when was the last time you were stopped by a cops? You may get 'shopped' by a member of the public though if parked in public places. If it's easy to use another method of transport then do that. Otherwise your taking a risk...
 
thinking about this, I imagine the ANPR cameras wouldn't pick me up as, unless I'm mistaken, they simply snap your plate and cross reference it with the DVLA computer to check if you've paid your tax.
as i've paid and I'm just waiting for the disc to arrive I should be ok right?
 
The_Dark_Side said:
thinking about this, I imagine the ANPR cameras wouldn't pick me up as, unless I'm mistaken, they simply snap your plate and cross reference it with the DVLA computer to check if you've paid your tax.
as i've paid and I'm just waiting for the disc to arrive I should be ok right?

Think thats true. However you would need to be careful where you park as believe Traffic Wardens will report you for not displaying a tax disk.
 
Technicaly it's illegal as you are "failing to display", but the risk of getting caught is pretty small. Personaly I would still drive the car if it was just to work and back, as the government has it's money and it doesn't affect insurance etc. I would be less keen to be parking it in city center car parks etc. However at the end of the day it has to be your call.
 
FireBIade said:
Failure to display is a seperate offense afaik when compared to no tax disc at all. So if you're not displying the correct tax disc you can be done (fined etc.). On the other hand when was the last time you were stopped by a cops? You may get 'shopped' by a member of the public though if parked in public places. If it's easy to use another method of transport then do that. Otherwise your taking a risk...

On tne way to work for me there is a section on where the Dual Carriageway goes back into a single lane and the traffic slows to a crawl. About 3 times a year the police stand on the edge of each lane and visually check the car tax. If you have none, they take you to a lay by about 50yards away where they clamp the car or put it on a transporter on the spot and impound it. My tax ran out yesterday and I really hope that tomorrow when i go to work and get a new disc, that it isn't a tax check day....

I was a couple of weeks late once as I moved house, forgot about the reminder and just never noticed. When I went to the Post Office for a new disc, I just asked them to back date it - I think thaey siad they coud do so untill the 15th of the month. This was before the new computerised tax and MOT systems though, so I'm not sure what would happen now.
 
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Im getting my tax tomorrow and ill take my car to get it, if the cops have a problem with it ill show them the tax documents, money and the rest of the stuff ready to take to the post office.

I think people are getting abit too worried , i usually see a two day grace
from when the tax runs out otherwise BAD BAD
 
I only returned off holiday today and my tax was due yesterday - 30/9 - I rang the dvla before I went and explained the situation and was told I'd be ok and I'm allowed a two week grace period to get it sorted.
 
JayMax said:
I only returned off holiday today and my tax was due yesterday - 30/9 - I rang the dvla before I went and explained the situation and was told I'd be ok and I'm allowed a two week grace period to get it sorted.

Whoever you spoke to was wrong. There is no 'grace' period - there is a 2 week period before the DVLA's computer automatically fines you, but if its the 1st of September and a miffed copper spots it, you're nicked, simple as that :(
 
I'd like to see a list of ordinary motorists who've been done for not displaying tax for a few days...
I can see your point if you were a known bad guy and the cops were looking for any excuse to pull and nail you but do you think they could seriously be bothered with the paperwork involved for a few days lapse?
 
[TW]Fox said:
Whoever you spoke to was wrong. There is no 'grace' period - there is a 2 week period before the DVLA's computer automatically fines you, but if its the 1st of September and a miffed copper spots it, you're nicked, simple as that :(


Maybe!!

Depends on the copper, if u have your tax details with you ready to buy tax... I think the matter would be different

p.s i think you are scaremongering :D

Anyone a proper copper wanna tell us if we get done with inproper tax on the 1st day?
 
Owing to the fact I'm away from the UK on a regular basis (and I mean very regular) I often miss the deadline and have done for the past 6 years - I've never ever had any problems. I don't give in to their bullying advertising "the computer will get you..." - they know full well who the evaders are and who are the legitimate people who are just a bit late (i.e. me) - I've always got it in, albeit late a few times - but I'm not purposefully trying to evade.

Furthermore now they have their "computer" they'll be able to track your payment. You'd also have to be very very very unlucky to get done by the police as more often than not they have better things to do than to worry about the odd car without a valid tax disc being displayed (certainly now people receive fines autmatically).

Just for an example, this year I didn't reknew it until over 2 weeks after the renewal period - did I get any trouble? Nope. Besides the tax disc in my car is seldom on show as it always falls off (the double sided stickiness of the holder has stopped sticking :o)
 
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