What is the grace period of a car tax disc? (uk)?

CDT

Not many people seem to know this yet, but the law changed slightly on 01 September 2008.

Prior to that date, what others on this thread have told you was correct, however from 01 September 2008 there was an exemption made to the offence in Section 33 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (VERA) of not displaying a valid tax disc. This now applies for the first five working days at the beginning of the month in which the tax disc commences.

It is now legal for motorists to drive or keep their vehicle on a public road without a current tax disc, for the first five working days of any month. This exemption from displaying a tax disc applies only when an application for a new disc has been made before the previous one has expired.

Motorists are advised to display the expired tax disc, however, they will be committing an offence if they continue to use or keep the vehicle on a public road without a current valid tax disc after the first five days of the month.

Bardic

None. There never was, in fact, it was just that they didn't bother to chase you for a couple of weeks. That's why they send you the reminder in good time.

ianhad

Nil, as you can do it on line or at the Post Office. They do warn in in plenty of time.

Ian W

Theoretically there is no grace period

Owen D

There is no such thing as grace period. At midnight on the last day that's it .

nosdda

A period of grace went out years ago. You have to renew it on the day it expires or give a SORN notice.

WelshLad

Have a look at http://www.direct.gov.uk/motoring and you will see there is no grace period.

COLIN T

ZERO. As you can re-tax a couple of weeks before it runs out there is no need for a 'grace' period.

cuddlyclaud

There is no grace period, you are responsible for keeping your car tax up to date, not getting a reminder from the DVLA is no excuse.

Merph4mars

There is no grace period. If you do not have a valid tax disc and you use your car on a public road or public place (eg Car Park) you can be charged with 2 offences: Failing to have road tax AND failing to display a valid road fund disc. DOUBLE WAMMY! I am not sure of the situation if you apply online and are waiting for the disc to arrive but certainly you can still be charged with failing to display.

bardolino

There is no grace period, you can usually get away with leaving it for about 2 weeks but don't rely on that, you can be prosecuted for not having it at one minute past midnight on the day it runs out.

Superleague32

All out of date car tax is now logged on a computer at DVLA and you will automatically get an Â£80 fine very shortly after it runs out. You would be much better to pay it before it runs out.

"isitme"

There isn't, and never has been a Grace period for car tax.

The myth came from the fact that if you let your tax lapse by about two weeks, but taxed it from when it expired, no action was taken.

These days things are different, if it expires, the automatic fine is generated about 4-6 weeks after expiry , giving you plenty of time to renew but it must be taxed from the date of expiry.

There is another offence with the tax disc, which is failing to display, this offence can be committed even if you have a valid disc which has fallen off.

frankie

The law is very clear no tax no use on the road there is no grace period. Watch the DVLAs response if you are caught without fine plus all the back duty. PS they use ANPR all the time motorway bridges major roads and at Major events.

waldo_mcginty

There isn't any. About 2 years ago DVLA changed it's procedure.As they have always done they end you a renewal reminder form about 2 weeks before the renewal is due.The difference now is that you are expected to renew in time for the day after the old one expires or fill in a SORN - Statutory Off-Road Notice - declaring that the vehicle is no longer on the road as from the

naturist

No such things as a grace period for car tax. Never has been, so where this idea of a grace period started from I've no idea. The DVLA send you a reminder nearly a month before your old tax disc expires so that's plenty of time to get a new one. I have just renewed my own tax disc online and I received the new disc in the post 3 days later. Couldn't be simpler.

david h

none , you can purchase your car tax on line and they will allow a few days grace before you display your tax disc as you can claim it is in the post, however they know if you have purchased your tax disc on line and when the transaction took place.

vavavoom

you can get away with it up until about two weeks after.

michael s

14 days if you are stopped by the law.
ANPR will report you.
not sure if anything will happen though.
the only person that can answer that for real is the DVLA.
if you are abroad and your tax expires
and you drive back home to the uk
and go past some ANPR cameras
you are not going to get a fine are you..
therfore you cannot say that you will get a fine from ANPR.

ghm

14 days after it runs out you can get caught by police and not get 'done' in that time

but the dvla only send out penalty letters 1 month after the car tax is due so if you fancied risking it you could have 1 month without paying it and wouldnt get done unless you got pulled by the police

David D

I have now renewed my tax disc on line, and paid for a year's tax from 01/01/2011. Reason for delay is that my father is helping to pay for it, but I thought I should get it as my last disc expired 31/12/2010. Have only in the last week received the Registration Document. It will now be within 5 working days in the post. Will I get prosecuted for failure to display or will the police be sympathetic, if I get caught? I can quote the payment transaction ref number.

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