DVLA Car Tax campaign

**Russ B** · 26-01-2007, 08:49

We've all seen the tv adverts and heard the radio clips where the DVLA threaten to take your car away and crush it if you don't renew your car tax etc so how can this be happening?

By the way this thread is not for the discussion of whether car tax should be scrapped!

BBKing · 26-01-2007, 08:53

Yes, I wondered that. I think the campaign may well be hogwash, as the police generally only get interested in cars where there's another reason (like driving erratically or suspicion of involvement in crime) and will run a tax/insurance check at the same time. They haven't got the manpower to check everyone all the time. So the advert should say 'I'm the DVLA computer and I'd really like to sort you out, but there aren't enough policemen so you might as well carry on'.

superbiatch · 26-01-2007, 09:00

These idiots who don't tax or insure their vehicles (or even have a licence sometimes) really get up my nose

I'm sick of picking up the bill for them!

TheNorm · 26-01-2007, 09:57

Quote:

In total, around 1.3 million registration marks were collected, and checked against computer records.

A large database, yes, but many organisations have been dealing with databases even larger than this for a long time now. Why the sudden change in the DVLA? Did someone in the office buy a new laptop?

---------- Post added at 09:57 ---------- Previous post was at 09:52 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBKing

... They haven't got the manpower to check everyone all the time....

Well, if the DVLA are losing Â£100 to Â£200 (or so) per annum per vehicle, why don't they sub-contract this work and offer half the tax due as "bounty"?

orangebird · 26-01-2007, 10:50

I know this isn't a discussion about scrapping tax, but the only way to get hold of the dodgers is to change the format - scrap the tax disc, and put some money on petrol - that way, no can avoid it. You also pay in proportion for the amount you actually use the road as well.

mrm1 · 26-01-2007, 11:49

In the last couple of months I have seen 4 cars in my local area clamped by the DVLA for out of date car tax, one was my next door neighbour, his tax was 5 weeks out of date.

Goes to show they are clamping down in some area's

marky · 26-01-2007, 12:07

We have had loads of catchment areas near Bolton, they sit on the side of the road with the VNPRS and have police further down the road to stop the offenders, my only gripe is when they stopped and took a car of a young mum with her baby, the car was 2 days out of tax

TheNorm · 26-01-2007, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

I know this isn't a discussion about scrapping tax, but the only way to get hold of the dodgers is to change the format - scrap the tax disc, and put some money on petrol - that way, no can avoid it. You also pay in proportion for the amount you actually use the road as well.

Isn't the idea to keep a central record of all motor vehicles?

**Russ B** · 26-01-2007, 12:19

I confess I was caught just over a year ago after my tax expired by a week. No excuses, I didn't do what I was supposed to do (I ignored the reminder and genuinely forgot when the month passed - again no-one's fault but my own) and was caught by a roadside DVLA check. They told me I had to pay Â£200 there and then or they wouldn't allow me to drive away but would get Â£120 back as soon as the car was taxed.

If kind of confused me though - they stopped me on a roundabout, what were they going to do, clamp me? As parking on a roundabout is illegal, surely they'd be breaking the law? The roundabout is too busy for a towing vehicle to stop there and in any case, what if I'd refused to leave the vehicle? I'm sure I've read they're not permitted to tow of lift a car away if there's someone in it.

orangebird · 26-01-2007, 12:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

Isn't the idea to keep a central record of all motor vehicles?

I thought the V5 did that?

TheNorm · 26-01-2007, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangebird

I thought the V5 did that?

Yes, but doesn't the road tax cover the cost of maintaining the database?

orangebird · 26-01-2007, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheNorm

Yes, but doesn't the road tax cover the cost of maintaining the database?

Don't know. But if the govt didn't have the expense of running the car tax administration, then maybe the cost of maintaining the database would be covered there?

AndyCambs · 26-01-2007, 12:35

They're going round this area and clamping untaxed vehicles at the moment - which is good, since if the vehicle is untaxed, it's probably uninsured as well - and from experience, you don't want to have an accident with someone who is uninsured!

**Derek S** · 26-01-2007, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ B

what if I'd refused to leave the vehicle? I'm sure I've read they're not permitted to tow of lift a car away if there's someone in it.

You'd eventually have been arrested and then the car moved.

bobby.black · 28-01-2007, 10:33

Relicensed my car online this time, all worked perfectly. Tax disc delivered within 2 days, but what if it wasn't delivered? You can re-order but, that then goes back to the "old" excuse "its in the post"! I hope you are not penalised if you are stopped at a check, with an old tax disc displayed, but you have paid for a whole year already.