Renewing car tax

[Halcyon]

Can anyone help settle a little argument.

I got a letter reminding me that my car tax needs renewing as normal every year.
Mine runs out on January 31st.

So, I have until then to get a new tax disc.

Reading the back of the letter I then see this:

By law, you as the registered keeper will not be committing an offence if you tax the vehicle or make a SORN within 14 days of the date your current tax disc or SORN runs out.
You must keep your vehicle off the road during this time as you will be committing an offence if it is used or kept on the public road.

So my question is...

If I renew now I'll get a January stamp on the tax disc.
Can I wait until the 31st when it runs out, and one day later into February go and renew my tax. According to the statement above I can do that as long as I don't drive my car and leave it on my drive way, not on the street.
This would then in effect give me one extra month.

Is that a Yes or a No?

Thanks.

halcyon.

[Kymmy]

It wouldn't give you an extra month as all tax disks issued in a month that have expired run from the 1st of the month so if you got a disc anytime in Feb it would expire end of Jan 2013, If you renew now then you'll get 12 months from the 31st of Jan (so will expire end of Jan 2013) as the expiry of your existing disc is taken into account.

The 14 days is due to the SORN rules so it gives you a choice to TAX or SORN within 14 days of the expiry of the tax. Obviously though you can't drive without tax as you break two rules (no tax and not displaying a valid tax disc)

[Halcyon]

That makes sense.
Thanks for clearing that up.

[m8internet]

I renew my own car online between 21:00 and 23:30 on its final valid day

However last October the website was not available again until 05:00
You could argue that for 5 hours my car was untaxed, but nothing came of it and there was even an apology included on the website and that provided the renewal was processed on 01 November no action would be taken (with a reference number which I printed out just in case)

Equally, it means having an expired tax disc displayed on the car, but this is permitted as the replacement is being processed and typically arrives within 5 working days

[AndyCambs]

You should allow 5 days for the disc to be posted to you - assuming you renew online which I find the most convenient.
Remember, the vehicle being on the highway (not just the road) without a valid vehicle excise licence is an offence.

The tax disc is dated January, and expires midnight on the last date of the month.
So if you renewed it for example on 1st February, then the disc would still expire 31st January.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by m8internet

Equally, it means having an expired tax disc displayed on the car, but this is permitted as the replacement is being processed and typically arrives within 5 working days

Which as Andy has just said is a separate offence and most certainly not permitted.. "not displaying a valid tax disc" You though are rarely going to get done for it.. especially if they have checked to see if your tax has been renewed as their main concern is that you have tax..

but if you get a jobsworth officer then they could issue you with a ticket for it.

CORRECTION

Show's how things change.. Directgov site is now stating new rules

If you use the electronic vehicle licensing service or tax by post at the end of the month, there’s now an exemption for not displaying a tax disc. This exemption covers the first five working days of the month to allow time for the new disc to arrive in the post. While you are still waiting for your tax disc you will need to display your current tax disc. The exemption only applies if applications are made before the current tax disc or SORN expires.

As I say time and time again you never stop learning...

[Peter_]

I applied for my tax disk a week last Saturday and put it in my car window last Wednesday I see no point in waiting until the end of the month

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Peter_

I applied for my tax disk a week last Saturday and put it in my car window last Wednesday I see no point in waiting until the end of the month

yet it's not valid until the end of the month so that is breaking the law..

Yep it's a bit pathetic and antiquated...

Mind you just had an argument with the DVLA about a sorn I was doing on a VW chassis in the workshop (long term project). Sorn was due november but we got no reminder and when I went to sorn it now it came back as unsorned from 2008 although when we bought the chassis in Nov 2010 we sorned it right away and still had the printout (always print it out when sorning) DVLA guys first couldn't add up and tried to tell us that the sorn was 14 months out of date instead of 2 months

Apparently they have 2 systems there.. One that has a log of all the details and actions on the sorn site then another for the V5's/Tax.. The first one had our 2010 sorn yet the 2nd one hadn;t been updated with tax/sorn since 2008 and it's this system that send out the reminders.

They have a perfect argument to send me a fine yet I don't think that'll happen especially as 1# The vehicle hasn't been on the road and 2# It was their mistake for not sending me a renewal.. I'm also glad to say that they don't seem to punish you for an odd slip-up as I think their main task is aimed at getting unlicensed vehicles off the road and not to punish those who have forgotten sorn for a few weeks

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

yet it's not valid until the end of the month so that is breaking the law..

Yep it's a bit pathetic and antiquated...

The ANPR would know that I am MOTed, Taxed and Insured so not overly bothered by that.

[Kymmy]

As long as you're on all 3 systems you've very unlikely to be pulled unless you give them cause. The system though is updated daily so you could be pulled based on an ANPR system the day after your tax expires if you have the vehicle on the road.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by Kymmy

As long as you're on all 3 systems you've very unlikely to be pulled unless you give them cause. The system though is updated daily so you could be pulled based on an ANPR system the day after your tax expires if you have the vehicle on the road.

I always get my MOT and Tax early just to ensure it is always road legal, I cannot be bothered running to the post office on the last day of the month for my tax disk, my brother in law always does it and thinks he is saving money, doing it online saves me time.

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by Peter_

I applied for my tax disk a week last Saturday and put it in my car window last Wednesday I see no point in waiting until the end of the month

I get paid weekly but last week of the month is when I have the most of my spare income so I always have to wait until the end of the month to buy mine.

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by ZrByte

I get paid weekly but last week of the month is when I have the most of my spare income so I always have to wait until the end of the month to buy mine.

I think you misunderstood and I do see your point with regards that, but it is the ones who run panicking into post offices at the last second that I mean and my brother in law is a prime example of that type.

[martyh]

Originally Posted by Peter_

I think you misunderstood and I do see your point with regards that, but it is the ones who run panicking into post offices at the last second that I mean and my brother in law is a prime example of that type.

surely that's what the last day of the month is for isn't it ?, standing in a que behind an old biddy paying 19 bills via giro bank only to find out "sorry we don't issue tax discs here".....roll on 30th june

[Peter_]

Originally Posted by martyh

surely that's what the last day of the month is for isn't it ?, standing in a que behind an old biddy paying 19 bills via giro bank only to find out "sorry we don't issue tax discs here".....roll on 30th june

I only pay £30 for mine anyway.