little miss fire

Went past one on the A11 this morning, and I swear it flashed (Tax ran out 31 March). I am going to get my tax today, will I still get an £80 penalty? Do they come in the same format as a speending fine? Knew I should have got up earlier on Saturday!

A sad & sorrow lmf

T4molie

Hmm tricky one... not sure tbh. I always thought you had 2 weeks grace to get ur new one sorted out, but am not sure if that still counts?

Not much help LMF... sorry

speedking

Tax cameras don't flash. Use ANPR = video system. AFAIK there is no 'grace' period now. This is to stop people missing a month every year knowing that the probability of getting caught is low.

SirFozzalot

I thought it was all done on computers now?

The impression I got from the adverts on TV was that "the computer" automatically sends out a fine if a new disc wasn't purchased for that car or if a SORN document wasn't received. Not sure though.

T4molie

Makes sense

speedking

@SirFozzalot : there was a post elsewhere stating that the computer coverage is currently only 15% of vehicles. The cameras will also spot other miscreants so may as well check tax at the same time.

SirFozzalot

15% Hardly worth it!

dtriggs

They will only send a fine out if you miss a month. As you have to pay for the existing month even if you tak it on the last day of the month the government wont have lost out. I regularly dont tax my cars until later in the month and never have a problem. Obviously if the Police stop you then you will have a little explaining to do.

little miss fire

dtriggs - so buying my tax today I should be okay?????

My questions would be I suppose, is how long does the 'computer' give you before it sends out a penalty?

speedking

Jan 1 2004: From today, anyone who does not renew a car licence within a month will receive an automatic £80 penalty.

The 7th paragraph of this may give you some comfort.

"Continuous registration" is the buzz phrase.

Risk of unfairness - there is a risk that the proposals will be seen to affect those who allow their vehicles to become unlicensed for short periods, through oversight or other difficulty, rather than the hard-core evader. The Regulations provide that a supplement is payable when a vehicle has been unlicensed for a month or more (although enforcement action under Section 29 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act may still be taken if a vehicle is detected unlicensed on the road during that initial month).

Any vehicle used or kept on a public road in the United Kingdom is required, by law, to display a valid vehicle tax disc. Not displaying is an offence.

The law re not displaying licence disc.

The law re using untaxed vehicle.

dtriggs: why? If you intend to pay anyway, why risk a fine?

Iain Young

Cameras are still there. Partly I suspect to catch cars that have been declared off road, but are still being driven about, (which wouldn't be able to be detected by the computer).

dtriggs

Speedking - yeah, mostly it's just my useless memory !!! But last time I was trying to swap cars before having to pay and it didnt quite work. I then had to pay for March (to cover 3 days owning the old car) and then pay for the month again on the new car !!