No More Tax Discs

[Cambell]

The tax disc is gone. What does this mean for me?

As the paper tax disc passes into history, we look at how the changes will affect motorist across the country

From today you will no longer need to display a paper tax disc in your car window as records will, instead, be electronic. Here’s a guide to what you need to know about the system.

What is happening to tax discs? From today, they are being scrapped so you will no longer need to display one in your car window. They have been around since 1921 but as the DVLA also keeps electronic records of who has paid vehicle tax it is a “visual symbol” of a“move into the modern age” according to the Treasury.

Do I need to rip my car disc from my window right away? You can do but you don’t have to. Some people may even decide to keep theirs for posterity (or to add to a collection of tax discs).

Will I have to pay more? Not unless you pay in instalments, which you will now be able to do. Instead of paying in a lump sum you can now pay monthly or in two six-monthly instalments. However, this will cost you an extra 5%.

If you pay by credit card you will also be hit with a £2.50 surcharge. The option to pay by direct debit is available for people who need to tax their car from 1 November 2014.

How will I remember to pay my tax? A question that is on the mind of many motorists as the tax disc has always been a handy reminder of when payment is due. The DVLA says it will still send out reminders before a driver’s tax is due to expire. If you still forget to pay you will get a warning before you are fined. Make sure the DVLA has your correct address.

I am buying a car that has some time left on the tax disc. Can I still transfer this to my name? No. Under the new rules you will need to renew the tax immediately, even if there are some months left on it.

I am a seller with months left on my tax disc. Will I get a refund?Yes, but not for partial months. So if you sell your car on the first day of the month (for example) the buyer will still have to pay for a whole new tax year and you won’t get any money back. You will get a refund for any other full months you have remaining.

Won’t the lack of any visible tax disc lead to more tax evasion?The RAC certainly thinks so – it believes it will lead to tax evasion amounting to £167m a year. But the DVLA has dismissed this as nonsense, arguing there is no need for a TV licence to be displayed in a window but that the system is still policed.

Source = The Guardian

[Guest jeffthro]

Reference the last paragraph, it will definitely result in a huge increase in evasion. There are very few number plate recognition vehicles around the country, (A quite knowledgeable chap I was talking to recently said it was 20, I don't actually believe that, but might not be that many more, I suppose?), and I personally cannot remember the last time I had a Police car behind me, so I would say there is an excellent chance of "getting away" with it for several months at least. And however you view it, it is certainly going to be an encouragement not a deterrent to anyone thinking about trying it.

And reference the very naive comment about TV Licences, you don't have to display car insurance certificates in your screen unlike quite a few other countries, and look how much evasion there is with that!

I suspect there may be a review quite quickly....................

[btmaldon]

I'm sure most Traffic Cars have these. There might only be 20 in one area. However in 2011 there were 4000 cameras in fixed locations and this number is thought to have doubled over the last three years.

[Guest jeffthro]

Yes, Bruce, but fixed location cameras are not number plate recognition cameras, and, yes, Police cars do have number plate checking cameras, but, as I said in my comment, I can't remember the last time I had a Police car behind me, and with Police budgets being substantially cut again next year, likely to be less and less.

A clearly defined visible disc was a positive check for anyone walking past a car -- police, community officer, traffic warden, parking attendant, even, I suppose, a community minded individual. (Unneighbourly busybody perhaps, lol.) Thats now completely gone.

It simply has to be a retrograde step.

[btmaldon]

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/23/anpr-automated-numberplate-recognition-cameras

Apparently there are up to 8000 ANPR cameras (well according to this report). However I completely agree with you that there is nothing like visual evidence as most of these cameras will be on Motorways and very few in residential areas or on B roads