The long-serving paper tax disc is set to vanish as the road tax system goes digital
Tomorrow drivers can tear up their tax discs as a new road tax system replaces the tried and tested perforated paper circle. Instead, an electronic road tax database will keep track of who has paid – and those who don’t face a fine of £1,000.
Although the change has long been in the pipeline, a recent survey found that more than half the country had no idea about the new road tax system. Here’s everything you need to know about it:
What is going to change?
From next month, motorists will no longer receive a paper tax disc to fix to their windscreen, and will instead be asked to pay their road tax online, via the DVLA website. Drivers without access to the internet will be able to pay at post offices. In Northern Ireland, drivers will still need to display their MoT discs, but not their tax discs.
What happens if my road tax doesn’t expire for several months?
You don’t have to do anything, although you can take your paper tax disc off your car windscreen if you want to. Your existing road tax will remain valid until its expiry date, at which point you can renew it using the new system.
What about classic cars and other tax-exempt vehicles?
Owners of cars which are exempt from vehicle excise duty will not have to pay anything, but they will still need to register each year on the DVLA website.
How will the authorities enforce the new road tax system?
Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras, which track all cars, will catch those who haven’t paid up. The police can look up registration numbers on the Police National Computer system. Offenders will face fines of up to £1,000.
Does this effect the buying and selling of used cars?
Yes, this is where the changes will be felt most keenly. From October, vehicle tax will no longer be transferred with the vehicle. This means the buyer will not benefit if there are unused months left on the tax disc. They will have to renew the tax straight away.
The seller can claim a refund from DVLA for any full calendar months left on the vehicle’s tax. However, they are also responsible for informing the DVLA of the change of ownership and will face a fine if they do not do so.
Are there any other disadvantages?
The new system could make it easier for car thieves to operate undected, says The Sunday Times. “Without the need for a tax disc with the correct registration number, it will be simpler for crooks to disguise stolen cars using a set of fabricated numberplates that have been copied from a properly taxed vehicle of the same make, model and colour,” the paper says. The ANPR cameras will not be able to tell the difference between the legitimate car and its ringer.
What about driving abroad?
Most European countries require some form of tax disc or sticker on the windscreen and some motorists have expressed fears that foreign police might look askance at vehicles not displaying any tax documentation. The British government says that the European authorities have been told about the changes. “DVLA have informed the European Union that from 1 October 2014, UK registered vehicles that are travelling in the EU will not display tax discs,” it says.
How can I check if my vehicle is taxed correctly?
You can look up the tax status of any vehicle by using DVLA’s Vehicle Enquiry System. Click here
You will still be sent a renewal reminder when your vehicle tax is due to expire.
How much of a problem is road tax evasion?
It’s relatively small, figures suggest. The latest estimate of vehicle excise duty evasion is just 0.6 per cent, although that amounts to about 200,000 cars.
So why is the system changing?
The DVLA says the reforms are aiming to streamline the service and to save British businesses millions of pounds a year in administrative bills.
Is there any benefit to the average motorist?
Insurance premiums may fall as a result. Julie Daniels, head of motor at comparethemarket.com, tells the Daily Telegraph that the removal of the tax disc, and resultant elimination of tax dodgers from the road, “should have a positive impact on premiums”.