Quick thought/question on the new tax RFL system

[dollywobbler]

Thought it was road fund licence, not tax? We all know it's a joke! If they have changed the rules so much why can't they work out 'tax' on a daily basis? (well we all know why, money) then no one is out of pocket! DVLA are already saving 25 million £ via the new rules, add the double tax when buying and selling cars they must be rolling in it! 

 

It is vehicle excise duty, more commonly referred to on government websites as vehicle tax.

 

You havent been asked for proof of insurance for over a year at the PO and its not checked online. The DD can only be used for continuous tax, so theres no way of getting just one months tax instantly.

SORN used to cancel the tax and you had to send back the disc for a refund. Is this automatic now, if you paid say 6 months? Maybe thats a way round having to tax more than a month up front?

 

Fred's right. I don't believe insurance is checked anymore and hasn't been for some time at the Post Office. But the online system seems to check MOT and insurance. Interesting discrepancy. 

 

Tax refunds should now be automatic.

[CortinaDave]

Last time I taxed online it did check my insurance - admittedly that would be back in about April.

 

It does annoy me that I still have to fork out £100 or more yet it's now too much to even give me a PIECE OF PAPER In return. At least you felt you were getting SOMETHING.

[dollywobbler]

When I last taxed a vehicle, I know the Post Office checked the details online - I just don't know what details. Presumably they use www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk which checks MOT and insurance status - so the change was just that you no longer needed the insurance certificate. Which doesn't show whether insurance is actually in place at the time anyway. (might have been cancelled)

[FredTransit]

The last time I offered the ins AT THE PO it was handed back without without a glance and the statement we dont check ins any more, the DVLA will fine you if you dont have it. They are online for the MOT.

[Pillock]

The tax disc only made sure you had mot (and previously insurance) at the time of purchase, you could run round for 11 months without it.

 

Yes you'll have to spend more money when buying a car, but cars should be cheaper - or you have more haggling rights without tax. The seller is going to be getting their refund so knock 'em down a bit.

[Lankytim]

If the person is now taxed rather than the vehicle then why do we still need to buy separate tax for each vehicle we own?

 

If there isn't a monthly disc to issue then why can't we start and stop tax on a certain day rather than monthly?

 

It's a shower of horse shit is what it is.

[barefoot]

With the new direct debit, will I be be able to set it up, run it for a couple of months, SORN it for three and then tax it again at only minor inconvenience to me i.e. sat at my computer?

I'm planning to SORN the van at the end of October, but tax it (when it drives down to the garage for some work) just for the month so I can drive about in it for a bit & check everything is OK and then SORN it again until the spring.

Or will this cause DVLA meltdown?

[castros_bro]

If someone* were to get the VIN number on a V5 say by buying a older French Velosolex which didn't have to be registered so had no VIN number, and investing in a set of punches to produce a composite number made up of all his/hers other existing vehicles then registering in the UK it may be possible to have one V5 and one numberplate and one VED covering all the vehicles. The only drawback I envisage is the ANPR pinging on motorways where sub 50cc transport is banned.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I think the new system is going to be alright. I think its impossible to follow it exactly to the letter, and impossible to check whether it has been followed to the letter or not. Therefore a certain amount of ‘common sense’ (I know, I know) is going to be inevitable when it comes to being certain whether a car is taxed or not. Its no longer even as simple as ‘is it taxed or not’ because now anyone interested has to check not only if its taxed but is the tax associated with the new or old keeper, and in the period immediately before or after a sale it’s impossible to prove it one way or another. If I buy a car that has a current tax on it with the existing keeper, I know its not going to ping any ANPR’s and I will just drive it home and worry about the tax later. AND I will tax it starting at the beginning of the next month, not the month that’s already started (unless it’s like the 2^nd or 3^rd of the month or whatever) seeing as a) the DVLA site allows me to do that and I know that the previous keeper has paid for this months tax, even if I am supposed to buy another months on top of his.

[New POD]

So when I buy a car, I'll tell my insurance company that it's not yet mine, but I want fully comprehensive cover to start now, and by the way in 3 weeks time, It will be mine.

[dollywobbler]

Eh? I don't get what you're trying to get at. Before the rules changed, you really had to make sure you were insured before you drove home in your new car. Now, in principal, you have to also tax before driving home. 

 

Look at the plus side. How many of have lost shit loads of money by selling cars with tax on them that we've paid for? That's gone now, so maybe it'll balance out the fact that every car now comes with the cost of tax on top. 

 

I can see where Tim is coming from. I bet an awful lot of energy and money has been used up coming up with a system that's a bit crap, but that's bureaucracy for you.