Thread: DVLA Tax Renewal letter

Always done mine online for the past 4 years and had no extra charges.

Pretty sure I've only needed the number off the document too.

I was always under the impression that you got some leaway on your tax disc of at least a few days if not slightly longer

Originally Posted by Schumie

I was always under the impression that you got some leaway on your tax disc of at least a few days if not slightly longer

It was the case until June 2008 that you had to wait until the 15th of each month to purchase your Tax Disc
From 01 July 2008 onwards Post Offices no longer keep the preceeding months Tax Discs
If you are late purchasing it then you lose an entire month and you end up paying the £80 fine

It used to be possible to purchase your Tax Disc a few days late, but you would run the risk of being stopped at the roadside without displaying a valid Tax Disc

Originally Posted by Schumie

I was always under the impression that you got some leaway on your tax disc of at least a few days if not slightly longer

I think there has always been some unofficial rumour, which is more about chance than anything. As of 1st September 2008 you get the extra 5 days leeway as long as you have already ordered and paid for by phone or online... so basically if you are waiting for the disc in the post you are still legal.

Originally Posted by PaulC

so basically if you are waiting for the disc in the post you are still legal

Sadly not...
You MUST display a valid Tax Disc on the vehicle
If the a Tax Disc is incorrect, invalid, illegible, or any other reason, then you may be reported for the offence
If the Tax Disc is indeed in the post then when the case proceeds, simply reply with the Tax Disc number and the case should stop
Some Police forces are well known for depending on the database now, with no consideration that the Tax Disc may be in the post, even when presented with the online statement!

I remember a case a few years ago, where the Tax Disc had fallen off the windscreen and was in the passenger footwell, so an offence was being committed
In court the owner of the vehicle presented the Tax Disc, so the case was dismissed
On returning to their car they had been given another notice for Not Displaying a Tax Disc

Originally Posted by M8INTERNET

Sadly not...
You MUST display a valid Tax Disc on the vehicle

They changed this on the 1st of September 2008 according to the leaflet with our renewal notice. From DVLA – Improved Customer Service -

The first of the changes has come about because DVLA has found that towards the end of the month, many motorists taxing their vehicle online or by phone do not complete the transaction when they realise that their tax disc may not be received in time for the 1st of the following month. As a result, from the 1st of September 2008, those buying their vehicle tax online, by phone or by post will be able to legally continue to drive their vehicles for up to 5 days while they wait for their new tax disc to arrive. This will only apply where the new tax disc has been applied for before the current one expires and motorists should continue to display the expired disc on their vehicle, until the new one arrives. This will be of great benefit to those motorists who have to leave buying their tax disc until the last day of the month, because they are waiting to be paid. They can now still do that, but also get the benefits of taxing online, by phone or by post.

In addition, motorists are now able to buy their vehicle tax disc from the 5th day of the month that their current disc is due to expire in. Previously, discs could only be bought from the 15th of the month. DVLA has introduced this new procedure following feedback from the motoring public, which has shown an increasing demand, especially since the advent of electronic vehicle licensing, for motorists to be allowed to re-license earlier in the month.

The DVLA may have updated their guidelines, but ACPO haven't so Police officers will still report invalid Tax Discs

Originally Posted by M8INTERNET

The DVLA may have updated their guidelines, but ACPO haven't so Police officers will still report invalid Tax Discs

I'm not sure I understand you correctly. The DVLA have leaflets saying that you can drive the car legally for a further 5 days if you have ordered the new tax prior to the expiry. Yet you say the Police will not agree with that if they pull you? Or are you saying they will still report you, then the DVLA check and then don't prosecute unless necessary?

Yip, the Road Traffic Act requires that a vehicle carrys and correctly displays a valid Tax Disc
If not, then the officer MUST report the offence
Even if the DVLA do issue this guideline, the officer will report the matter for prosecution
However, it is not dealt with locally, it is sent direct to the DVLA

If the owner has indeed applied, but not yet received the Tax Disc then the DVLA should confirm this, and the case may be dropped by the Prosecution service
However, if the owner is "lying" then the DVLA will reply that no such application or payment was made, the DVLA will then report the complain to the Prosecution service and the complaint will proceed
The DVLA will then reply to the officer, confirming that the driver did not have a valid Tax Disc, and as a result may not have been insured...
The hornets nest then opens for the driver!

The saving "grace period" should be in effect, providing the database in the Police Car or forces own database is up to date
However some forces do not update their database frequently enough
My car insurance is due on 22 December
I was stopped on 25 December last year and came back as uninsured
I tried to contact the insurer, but thankfully the officer saw sense and issued a roadside bond rather than sieze the car!
The officer sent me a text message that he had been checking twice a day and on 29 December to confirm the database had finally been updated, and that the matter (driving without insurance) would be dropped

Originally Posted by M8INTERNET

My car insurance is due on 22 December
I was stopped on 25 December last year and came back as uninsured
I tried to contact the insurer, but thankfully the officer saw sense and issued a roadside bond rather than sieze the car!
The officer sent me a text message that he had been checking twice a day and on 29 December to confirm the database had finally been updated, and that the matter (driving without insurance) would be dropped

This is why I like insurers who let you download a PDF - can then print it out and keep it in the car such that if you get stopped, you can just show them the certificate...

Originally Posted by Rebuke

This is why I like insurers who let you download a PDF - can then print it out and keep it in the car such that if you get stopped, you can just show them the certificate...

The officer may then try and contact the insurance just to confirm the certificate itself is valid, as it has been printed on plain paper
The officer ran into the same problem I had, the phone just rang out
I then phond the claims and accident line, but the agent was unable to disclose information to the officer over the phone, which he thought was a joke but agreed afterwards that he could have been anyone!