Tax questions??

bought the deisel a few weeks ago

taxed it this morning online and the disc will arrive within 5 days

can i still drive it without the disc ??

it says on the website i have 5 days before i need to change from the old disc, but i haven't got an old disc

it also told me that the car hasn't been registered since 1997 and there hasn't been any sorn detail

it said that it's illegal and someone will be in touch. so don't know whats that about :dontknow:

so can i drive it without the tax disc ??

It used to be an offence simply not to display the disc, although now with the computerised systems that plod can use to look up the details I think you'd be very unlucky to end up in court for not having a taxed car when its err.. taxed.

Do you feel lucky?

As above for the tax issue - should be okay to drive. There are 2 offences - not being taxed, and failing to display a tax disc. You could in theory be done for the latter but it would need to be a very grumpy cop who thinks its worth pursuing.

Regarding SORN, you should have declared SORN when you bought it, you might be done for this - that might be the thing you've been told is illegal and they'll be in touch? The bad news is they normally backdate it to when it was LAST taxed. If its just been registered in your name quite recently, they will probably only backdate it to then. Otherwise you'll need to cough up 14 years worth of tax….

Having 'participated' in the above scenario a few years ago, I can speak with a degree of certainty.

1. No tax dispalyed CAN get you prosecuted.
2. Your car COULD be seized.
3. You CAN be fined.
4. You MAY have to pay the back tax.

I only nipped to the garage for a quote when I first got the car (and didn't use it eventually) and got pulled in by a DVLA road check. They dealt with me as per above. They fined me £80.00 for failing to display and took a credit card swipe so I avoided the car being lifted there and then (the payment was refundable on production at the DVLA office of a valid tax disc).

I was told that if I got the new tax that day - OR THE DAY AFTER (which I did) then I would have to pay the back tax. That bit of advice was incorrect because I had a letter asking me to pay the back tax for about a year!!!! An expensive trip!!

These days the PNC (as it has been able to for the past 22 years that I've been in the job) will inform an officer that a car isn't taxed. The officer can fill a form in to notify DVLA and its up to them to prosecute - not the police.
The failing to display offence is still on the books but in reality it is used for 'special customers' who fail the attitude test.  :wink:

I'd expect the newly purchased tax disc to be with you sooner than 5 days - mine was when I purchased on line.  

you get a 5 day cooling off period untill the disc turns up if you orderd it online only if it has expired tho

cheers guys

as to the back tax i have already paid this month at we are 13 day into it so that alright

as to delaring it sorn i only bought the car a month ago, so if they do persue it then i owe them for a month

think i won't bother driving it till it lands on the door step not worth the risk as knowing my luck the copper that pull me will be a jobworth

cheers guys

Have a look at the DVLA website, there's some useful info on how you declare SORN depending on when you bought the car and when you physically receive the V5C. I didn't realise its only a month, they might let you off since its a daft little rule anyway.

i just assumed that he had it as sorn but should have checked it out really

14 years at £205 = £2870

SORN doesn't transfer with change of ownership!

you learn something every day

paul_c said

SORN doesn't transfer with change of ownership!

Woops, my golf gx was bought sorn'ed and i thought that it will stay that way, do i need to tell the dvla that i still want it sorn'ed?