Car tax question

[Earl Aelfheah]

I'm on holiday and just realised that my car tax expires on Thursday. Stupidly I left the renewal form at home and from what I can tell, I need the reference number on the form in order to renew online. Does anyone know if DVLA have a grace period of a few days, or am I in trouble! Cheers

[Loz]

If you aren't on the road, I think you have an extra 14 days. If you are currently parked on the road, you are quite possibly stuffed (though I imagine you have to be caught, first). It's an ?80 fine.

You could try ringing the DVLA (0300 123 4321) - they might be able to help.

[Senor Chevalier]

DVLA will help you. After I'd navigated their automated call system (take a deep breath) I got through to a very sensible chap who figured that the lesser evil was taking my money and taxing the car without the ref number. A rare display of pragmatism.

[jacks09]

I think if you pau by Direct Debit they renew it automatically for you?

[Mick Mac]

Also - you don't get a disc any more so a traffic warden type is unlikely to pick you up on it. Id suggest you'll get a reminder and any payment you then make will be backdated - I guess.

[Loz]

I wouldn't rely on that Mick - they all have ANPR systems nowadays which ties into the system. I believe they use them for tracking how long you've been parked, too.

[DulwichFox]

The Tax Disc was always a constant reminder your Tax was due... and responsible drivers paid up on time.

Now responsible drivers are being hit with hefty fines for late payment... Just a DVLA ploy to make money.

We are a nation of Fines... and Taxation...

DulwichFox

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Tax Disc was always a constant reminder your

> Tax was due... and responsible drivers paid up on

> time.

>

> Now responsible drivers are being hit with hefty

> fines for late payment... Just a DVLA ploy to make

> money.

>

Fox, it's not a DVLA ploy to make money.

You get a reminder in the post when your tax is due, just as you did before.

If you ignore it and don't renew you get fined, just as you did before.

It's much much easier to renew online. It takes about five minutes, as opposed to going to a Post Office with all the car documentation, queueing for ages and then having to wait while the paperwork was all done manually.

[DulwichFox]

Yes .. you get a letter.. You put it in the drawer and it goes out of your mind..

... with no Tax Disc to remind you.. people are getting caught out... 1000's of them..

Foxy

[TheArtfulDogger]

Foxy

The letter can be acted on as soon as it arrives, prior to the change you couldn't renew before the 15th of the month prior to the renewal date (I.e. 15th of March for April 1st) but now as soon as you get the letter, renew and Bobs your giddy aunt !

Only a "fool" would put it in the draw (said mr T )

[indiepanda]

jacks09 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I think if you pau by Direct Debit they renew it

> automatically for you?

Yes, I had a moment of panic when I thought I hadn't renewed my car tax - or been sent a reminder about it come to that, but turned out I had put it on DD the first time that was possible and they'd just done it automatically at the next renewal. Panic over.

[Loz]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes .. you get a letter.. You put it in the drawer

> and it goes out of your mind..

>

> ... with no Tax Disc to remind you.. people are

> getting caught out... 1000's of them..

Direct debit is your friend, Foxy.

[Lowlander]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes .. you get a letter.. You put it in the drawer

> and it goes out of your mind..

>

> ... with no Tax Disc to remind you.. people are

> getting caught out... 1000's of them..

>

> Foxy

A casual stroll along Lordship Lane this evening showed around 75% of cars showing out-of-date tax discs...all expired October 2015 or before. Completely unprofessional survey of course.

[Senor Chevalier]

You said it!

People used to slot in the new tax disc over the old one or remove the old and replace with the new. Now they renew online and many leave the old where it was. Doesn't mean they are not taxed. They wouldn't get too far without being picked up by ANPR cameras.

[Mick Mac]

Loz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I wouldn't rely on that Mick - they all have ANPR

> systems nowadays which ties into the system. I

> believe they use them for tracking how long you've

> been parked, too.

Surely you get a reminder if you haven't paid?

[Loz]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Loz Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> > I wouldn't rely on that Mick - they all have ANPR systems nowadays which ties into the system. I

> > believe they use them for tracking how long you've been parked, too.

>

> Surely you get a reminder if you haven't paid?

If it's on the road and tax has expired, they will send you an ?80 fine. No reminders, except the one they send you a month before it expires.

[edcam]

I got in a panic only yesterday, thinking I hadn't paid and was about to be heavily fined. I then discovered that I'd signed up to Direct Debit (phew) and had completely forgotten. So I strongly advise doing the same!

[Earl Aelfheah]

Loz Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> If you aren't on the road, I think you have an

> extra 14 days. If you are currently parked on the

> road, you are quite possibly stuffed (though I

> imagine you have to be caught, first). It's an

> ?80 fine.

>

> You could try ringing the DVLA (0300 123 4321) -

> they might be able to help.

Thanks for the number Loz. I managed to get it taxed over the phone in the end.

[malumbu]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The Tax Disc was always a constant reminder your

> Tax was due... and responsible drivers paid up on

> time.

>

> Now responsible drivers are being hit with hefty

> fines for late payment... Just a DVLA ploy to make

> money.

>

> We are a nation of Fines... and Taxation...

>

> DulwichFox

The voice of reason.

End of the tax disc saved a little money to you as tax payer.

Most outward facing HMG websites and applications very good. The internal ones are shite, but that probably doesn't bother you and to do with the mantra that everything needs to be outsourced and changed every other year, at the cheapest price. Anyway I digress.

Good that there are more positive. And the sun is shining,

[indiepanda]

In defense of the new system, being able to pay by direct debit rather than having to remember to do it is a plus. I am sure it's more efficient that way as plenty of people will sign up for direct debit and any savings in processing costs is money that can be spent on something more important.