GEARBOX SPECIALISTS

SPECIALIST REPAIRS FOR AUTOMATIC AND MANUAL GEARBOXES

NEW TAX DISC REGULATIONS

The changes to how we pay and display our road tax are upon us, do you know the new regulations?

Whilst certain aspects remain virtually unchanged, there are some clear differences that come in on the 1st October this year.

Paying Your Road Taxtax disc 1

The new system introduces the option of monthly payments. The Government expect this to be a popular option, making it more manageable for many. There will be an extra 5% payable if you pay it monthly or 6 monthly, but this is still less than the current 10% extra for paying it 6 monthly.

Is the new Road Tax transferable?

In short, no. When you purchase a new car, or sell your old one, road tax will no longer be part of the transaction. It will be up to you to tax your current vehicle no matter what the circumstances. This should make the classified car ads a little shorter. When you sell the car it is up to the new owner to tax it, and you must inform the DVLA immediately, who will refund all full outstanding months. Failure to notify the DVLA will carry a hefty fine.

Can I still tax my car at the post office?

Yes you can, the post office will still be able to tax cars, but the online system and 24/7 phone service are expected to be much more heavily used, as anyone who purchases a car will need to tax it before driving it away, and a phone call is far easier than getting a lift to the local post office.

So what will I now display?

Nothing. As from the 1st October this year the legal requirement to display proof of road tax ceases. Novelty tax disc holder manufacturers are not happy. The Police already use a computerised database to know whether your car is legal, and rarely need to see the physical disc anymore. So this will make little difference for them, but it is one less thing for us motorists to worry about.

On the whole we don’t think these changes will make a great deal of difference to most people, but hopefully the people it does effect, it will do so in a positive way.

SOURCE: PGTIMES