How many days grace do you get for renewing your car tax?

Andy

Normally no grace period: http://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q370.htm As with late filing of a tax declaration, the penalty is issued automatically, by computer. HOWEVER, if you can prove that you filed a timely SORN (off-road declaration), or if you are a diplomat (in which case the LVLO wouldn't fine you anyway and there's nothing to pay, but some diplomats don't put diplomatic number plates on their cars), then the fine is waived.

If you are abroad with the car and hence can't get an MOT and hence can't pay the road tax, THEN the problem is different. See below for the FAQ, which doesn't however mention how to overcome the MOT problem. (An MOT can be done before you go and is then good for at least a year; but what if you don't know you'll be staying that long? The only answer I can think of is to submit a SORN. "If you are abroad when the tax disc expires and your vehicle is to be kept off the road in the UK, you tell DVLA by making a statutory off road notification (SORN).")

I am aware that the day that you return to the UK there will be a problem, and some years ago (before the new regime, including SORNs began) I asked HM Customs. They said that as far as they are concerned you can bring the untaxed car in. You can arrange for an MOT in Dover or another port of arrival and resolve the issue the same day. The law makes no concession for this, so it's a matter of administrative discretion.

((In the event, what we did was to take all number plates off the vehicle and to buy "Q" plates from the AA at Dover. There is no MOT or tax disc required for these. We could do this because our car was diplomatically registered in another country (but we had to return the diplomatic plates right away) and so a completely new registration could be issued.))

Some local parking permit issuers, Kensington & Chelsea comes to mind, allow a 7-day grace AT THE DISCRETION of the parking warden. I asked this question recently at The Parking Store.

I have gone beyond your question, trying to guess what the real problem is. Maybe you'll find an answer in what I wrote.

Lick_My_Toad

None. They send the reminder out 14 days before it is due. That means you get 14 days notice that you need to renew, so you don't get any days grace anymore.

huggz

None!

Dry Dreamer

None whatsoever

Dave J

None... thats why you get the reminder weeks in advance.

leave it more than a couple of days and old pc plod will be having a nosey around your address for a car to impound.
Time to go to the postie me thinks!

mitzy

You get remonder 2 weeks before its due-if you not got it by first of the month they'll penalise.

TOMGAR

most police officers will give you anywhere from 2 weeks to 1 month. If you go much more than that you are pushing your luck :]

dave

There are no days grace, however, it is unlikely that you will be prosecuted in the first 30 days as long as your tax is backdated to when the last disc expired.
If however you have an accident, or commit some other traffic offence then your failure to display a tax disc will almost certainly come up in coourt.

CLIVE H

None. If a vehicle is untaxed then a fine may already be in the post. Your neighbours may see to it.

OriginalBubble

None. You can put a note on your car to say your tax disc in the post, but they will check, and if they havent received your app, you will get done.

EdinItalia

Officially you get none but a friend of mine who is a police officer says he usually gives a week,but only if the tax in post sticker is on the windscreen and the car hasn't moved.

dave p

none, if your cars not taxed and on the road it could be towed away and scrapped by the police

moonbeam

None - don't make that mistake!

Fox Hunter

In the UK you dont anymore. the day it expires is the day you get an Â£80 fine.

I know, where does the money go, the roads never get any better?

CLIVE T

Your insurance requires you to have up to date car tax, failing this they will withdraw your cover. If you get caught, you can be convicted for both.

jackie r

u dont get any grace, u just get done, dont chance it

FRAGINAL-NOYPI

Depends on the law prevailing at your place. Usually grace period are from 15 to 30 days.

shayney boy

i think it is 7 days or tell the police officer that you were just on your way to buy it

Mrs G

As much as you can get away with... stick the old " Tax in the Post " sign on your windscreen.. or " Nurse on Call "..

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