re Displaying/Tax disc paid for

[Answerprancer]

I was wondering what in reality is the situation if you have paid for a car tax disc online (so it's on the system) but then drive the car before it gets delivered.
The Direct.Gov site states that you can be fined "up to £200" which to me seems unreasonable if it's paid for.
If for example a copper scanned my plate when driving down the motorway, could the info tell him that it is paid for *but not yet delivered* then pull me over and do me?

(Nb. I'm not looking for "rules is rules" style answers thank you)

[Hopkirk]

You are allowed 5 days of non display while it is in the post, as long as you have paid to renew

[factor-fiction]

I understood there is an offence of Failing to display a valid tax disc.
I think you can apply online up to around 15 days beforehand so there should be time, but I can see delays occurring and the post can be slow.

[bookbinder]

You will have an extra five working days to display your old tax disc if you tax your vehicle online.

[Baldric]

It states on the renewal that if you do it online you get 5 days from the time the old tax rus out before you need display the new one

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for that Hopkirk (breathes a sigh of relief).

[danchip]

if you drive past an ANPR then it will show that your car is taxed, if you get stopped of the police it will be failing to display a tax disk which you are fined for!

[mike11111]

You stick a note on the windscreen saying, "Tax disc in the post". Alternatively, the label from a bottle of Guinness is sufficient to fool all but the most eagle-eyed of traffic wardens.

[Hopkirk]

Baldric has added the essential bit that I missed - 5 days from when the old one expires.

If your tax ran out on 31st July, and you are only just renewing then you cannot legally drive until it arrives.

[Answerprancer]

Ah, hang on a minute - some of those answers have given me doubts.
The tax ran out at the end of last month (it's been off the road since then) and I am just about to order a new one online, obviously starting from the beginning of this month. Given this info, does that mean I could still be done ?
I am having difficulties finding all my docts otherwise I'd just get one from the local post office.

[EDDIE51]

As has been said as soon as you do the online renewal it is on the data base as paid and the car will show as taxed. The actual 'disk' now is virtually redundant as the data base is what counts.

[Answerprancer]

Ah, I took so long typing that I missed your second response Hopkirk. Ok, I'd better carry on looking for me docts !

[Hopkirk]

Yes sorry, my first answer was for someone renewing on time.

In your case, you need to display a disc to be legal. You could only drive displaying the July disc until the 5th of August.

[ABerrant]

Not sure why you are breathing a sigh of relief now (middle of the month) when this situation can only ever occur for the first 5 days of the month after the old disc has expired.

[ChuckFickens]

"Alternatively, the label from a bottle of Guinness is sufficient to fool all but the most eagle-eyed of traffic wardens."

Good idea, then you'll get a conviction for criminal fraud, instead of just a fine for not displaying a tax disk!!... sensible advice!

I can't find anything in the ehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 stating there is any grace period BTW

http://www.legislatio...ga/1994/22/section/33

[ABerrant]

oops! I see my concern has been addressed.

[Hopkirk]

Here you go Chuck

https://www.taxdisc.d...onquestions#question9

[mike11111]

I was being just a little bit tongue-in-cheek, à la Del Boy.

[ChuckFickens]

Also found it in the legislation, although it doesn't specify a period, it does say there are "grace days" "of a prescribed length"

[jake-the-peg]

Seeing that you're not looking for a "rules is rules" response I cannot see anybody wanting to risk taking you to court for not displaying a license when you've already previously paid for one.

They'll look incredibly petty and will be running the risk of being asked why they're wasting the court's time

[ABerrant]

The offence does not need the intervention of a Court; it is disposed of by fixed penalty.

"Failure to display a vehicle excise licence" is a strict liability offence - either you are displaying or not displaying (possession or payment is irrelevant).