What am I going to do?

Cycalogic

So, I applied for my test in january, and recently (sunday evening to be precise) found the letter the RSA sent on the 19th march (grr) with the date and time of my driving test (tomorrow morning at 8am). Which left me with 4 days to prepare.
I stormed out of home on sunday because i was so frustrated with my post not being passed on to me, so went back to college without any money.

I came back wednesday (yesterday) for a driving lesson and realised this evening, I havent taxed my car. WTF am i going to do?

I broke my ankle a while ago, so i am only back driving since 1st april and have the tax renewal form signed by the gardai stating that I was off the road for the couple of months. Its dated april 1st too. Which means, when I tax it, it will be back taxed, right??

Anyway. What do I do? I mean I cant tax it in the AM because my test is too early.
I doubt the tester cares i do plan on taxing it, or if I have the form, does he?
Do they check it properly? Would I be wasting my time even trying to explain it? Will he refuse to do my test?

I feel so goshdarn stupid now. Im so stressed out.

Any ideas?

qz

Don't sit it. Re-apply. Practice as if you were starting off. Take your time, it's a life skill not something to do to pass a test. Chill out.

easyeason3

If you have a credit or laser card you can tax it online & print out the conformation that it is taxed. It will take a few days for the tax disc to get posted to you but if you were stopped by the Guards the conformation would be enough proof that you have it taxed & waiting on the disc.
I'm not sure if the RSA would accpet this but it's worth a shot at least.
Best of luck.

peanuthead

Chill out:)

After all, its only a test, you can re-sit it.:p

Okay you may as well do it anyway, as you won't be refunded.

Do you know anyone who can loan you a taxed car for the day? I know, I know, you won't be insured on it, but if they drive you up and back in it, you should be fine to just do the test in it. AFAIK.

They will check it though, and if its not taxed they won't take you out.

Alanstrainor

You will need to present a valid tax disc and no excuses will be accepted. The only hope would be to take the test in an instructors car, although it's getting a bit on the late side...

peanuthead wrote: »

I know, I know, you won't be insured on it, but if they drive you up and back in it, you should be fine to just do the test in it. AFAIK.

Absolutely not! Driving uninsured during a test is still driving around uninsured and is completely reckless.

peanuthead

qz wrote: »

Don't sit it.

I disagree completely.

Why not at least try, you won't get your cash back anyway at this stage.

But just a question... don't you have to call/text to confirm that you will attend, a couple of weeks in advance in order to even go on the system? Don't know how serious they take that though

drunkmonkey

Are you insured on any of your folks cars, could you borrow one of there's? other than that your kinda foooked....

You could chance your arm and say the tax disc is in the post, the worst he can say is no....

I thinks it's worth a shot....

best of luck with the test....

drunkmonkey

easyeason3 wrote: »

If you have a credit or laser card you can tax it online & print out the conformation that it is taxed. .

that's a brilliant idea, what's the pin, the last 6 digits of your chassy number?

qz

peanuthead wrote: »

I disagree completely.

Why not at least try, you won't get your cash back anyway at this stage.

I should have clarified, I meant don't sit it in the un-taxed car. If the OP can sit it in an instructor's car the test will be like a very tough driving lesson and of course he should go for it.

bobcar61

You may as well go to the test center and try to do it. You never know, but the tester may by pass the whole thing or might not have woken up and get dates mixed up. Your better off going down to try it as your not going to get a refund anyway.
The best idea has been to pay the tax tonight and print off the confirmation and hope the tester will accept it:)

Good luck:D

easyeason3

drunkmonkey wrote: »

that's a brilliant idea, what's the pin, the last 6 digits of your chassy number?

The pin is printed on the motor tax renewal form on the left hand side of the form & the chassis number is on the engine, pop the bonnet & have a look for a really long number, bring a cloth because you will probably need to rub off a bit of dirt & grease to read it properly.

OR if your parents are insured with AXA you can send a fax into them requesting that you are put on the insurance for a few hours in the morning. I don't think you will be able to drive your own car during those few hours though.

shreksaurus

Could you get someone to go to the motor taxation office in the morning, get them to pay for you, and meet you at the test centre before your test with the tax disc.

Alanstrainor

Taken directly from the RSA

1) Current valid motor tax disc and insurance disc.

Have heard numerous people on this forum be refused tests because they didn't have a tax disc, a printed off confirmation letter is not sufficient.

Cycalogic

I cant pay it tonight cause my tax is out since december 08 and I didnt start driving until April 09, which means, Id have to back tax it 4 months and tax it for at least 3 (and im off to america in 3 weeks too, god) which means thats 7 months and they wont do that.... id have to tax it for 9.. and i dont have the money to do that tonight..

i suppose changing my dads tax disc onto my car would get me in serious trouble and i dont think id have the bottle to do that anyway.

i guess i can only try get my driving instructors car. i have a lesson at 7 so if i call him at 6:30 (hell surely be up!?) and tell him, maybe we can organise that?

ahhhhh fockk

easyeason3

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Taken directly from the RSA

Have heard numerous people on this forum be refused tests because they didn't have a tax disc, a printed off confirmation letter is not sufficient.

My brilliant idea isn't so brilliant anymore is it?

brian076

The tester cannot refuse to take you out in an untaxed car. Once the Ins Disc & NCT if applicable are in date you're ok.

This topic had a seperate thread sometime ago, but I can guarantee you 100% that a current tax disc irrespective of what the RSA website says is not required.

Cycalogic

Cycalogic wrote: »

I cant pay it tonight cause my tax is out since december 08 and I didnt start driving until April 09, which means, Id have to back tax it 4 months and tax it for at least 3 (and im off to america in 3 weeks too, god) which means thats 7 months and they wont do that.... id have to tax it for 9.. and i dont have the money to do that tonight..

i suppose changing my dads tax disc onto my car would get me in serious trouble and i dont think id have the bottle to do that anyway.

i guess i can only try get my driving instructors car. i have a lesson at 7 so if i call him at 6:30 (hell surely be up!?) and tell him, maybe we can organise that?

ahhhhh fockk

Jesus don't swap the discs, you get prosecuted for that kinda stuff!

your instructor should lend you his car. This is your best option. Stop panicking and go to bed. There is nothing more you can do at this stage.

It's no big deal if you happen to get turned away, it's only a few quid down the drain and if you're going to america you won't be needing to drive for a while anyway.

Good luck either way

brian076

brian076 wrote: »

The tester cannot refuse to take you out in an untaxed car. Once the Ins Disc & NCT if applicable are in date you're ok.

This topic had a seperate thread sometime ago, but I can guarantee you 100% that a current tax disc irrespective of what the RSA website says is not required.

Bullshit

the car could come to a checkpoint and the car taken off the driver so the tester can absolutely refuse to go out in an untaxed car.

proof of your claims would be nice too...

brian076

Deleted User wrote: »

Bullshit

the car could come to a checkpoint and the car taken off the driver so the tester can absolutely refuse to go out in an untaxed car.

proof of your claims would be nice too...

I was a Driving Tester & I can assure you that you do not need a current tax disc to sit your test. A court case some years ago found that the Dept. of Transport could not refuse to test someone in an untaxed car. I know that might sound stupid but this is Ireland.

easyeason3

Deleted User wrote: »

Jesus don't swap the discs, you get prosecuted for that kinda stuff!

Totally agree. The last few checkpoints I went through the Guards checked the reg on the disc to the reg of my car to make sure it was correct & I would presume the tester would do the same. Not only will he refuse to let you take the test but a phonecall would be made to the Guards about it.
To be honest I'd sooner drive a car with the tax out of date before I'd chance using someone elses tax disc. I'd have guilt written all over my face & I'd probably blurt it out :pac:

peanuthead

brian076 wrote: »

I was a Driving Tester & I can assure you that you do not need a current tax disc to sit your test. A court case some years ago found that the Dept. of Transport could not refuse to test someone in an untaxed car. I know that might sound stupid but this is Ireland.

All other reasons for an instructor to cancel a test before it even starts are to do with health and safety, so it would make sense that the one thing they would not refuse for would be the tax.

I'm fairly sure they can refuse you if they felt like it on the day though as, as you say yourself, this is Ireland

brian076

peanuthead wrote: »

All other reasons for an instructor to cancel a test before it even starts are to do with health and safety, so it would make sense that the one thing they would not refuse for would be the tax.

I'm fairly sure they can refuse you if they felt like it on the day though as, as you say yourself, this is Ireland

You're right regarding the first point, they can only refuse to take you out on health & safety grounds, but no matter what they feel on the day they cannot refuse to take you out with no tax. It's one of the few areas where the tester has no discretion.

peanuthead

easyeason3 wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

Jesus don't swap the discs, you get prosecuted for that kinda stuff!

Totally agree. The last few checkpoints I went through the Guards checked the reg on the disc to the reg of my car to make sure it was correct & I would presume the tester would do the same. Not only will he refuse to let you take the test but a phonecall would be made to the Guards about it.
To be honest I'd sooner drive a car with the tax out of date before I'd chance using someone elses tax disc. I'd have guilt written all over my face & I'd probably blurt it out :pac:

But sure how you would even expect to get away with that I don't know, providing both cars are exactly the same makes and models and colours

Even then I know the reg no is on the disc, but still, a micra driving up with a tax disc for an astra or somethin...

Cycalogic

Okay, so I explained to him this morning and he didnt give out or refuse to do the test. He just said that it was fine.

He seemed to be a lovely man, but... I cant help feeling that he didnt mark it correctly? I failed by 2 x's... for stuff that i KNOW i had no problem with.

1 was for reversing around the bend. I know I can do that, and I know I done it fine today, but he gave me a mark for competency. Fair enough if I deserved it, but... I honestly didn't. I kept close to the kerb, I didnt hit the kerb, I didnt pass the white line, I didn't speed around it. I checked my mirrors and my blind spots, checked for any stationary cars and used both mirrors.

1 was for "on the straight".. WTF dude. I drive fine on the straight? I didnt get overcome with nerves and fock it up this morning. Even on my last test, I didnt get any bad marks for driving on straight... And I didnt drive on the straight any differently than I normally do?

There was 1 or 2 other questionable x's too.

Its not that I went in expecting to pass. I mean it would have been nice, but i was sure I was going to fail on observation. I got 3 marks on observation.
Its just... I honestly dont get why he'd have given me marks against something that I didnt even do??

Anyway, its over and done with now, and I can concentrate on my summer, and reapply when I come back.

NOTSURE

you dont need tax for category b,tester must test you,insurance and nct is all they can check.

brian076

brian076 wrote: »

I was a Driving Tester & I can assure you that you do not need a current tax disc to sit your test. A court case some years ago found that the Dept. of Transport could not refuse to test someone in an untaxed car. I know that might sound stupid but this is Ireland.

Well I guess I owe you an apology then. Sorry to have assumed you were bonkers. I guess it's just that it's something that you are made to believe when you are taking a test, that you can fail instantly for not having tax etc but you obviously know what you're talking about and the OP didn't have any hassle. So again! sorry!

brian076

Deleted User wrote: »

Well I guess I owe you an apology then. Sorry to have assumed you were bonkers. I guess it's just that it's something that you are made to believe when you are taking a test, that you can fail instantly for not having tax etc but you obviously know what you're talking about and the OP didn't have any hassle. So again! sorry!

Apology accepted, you probably weren't the only person to think I was bonkers, and it came as a surprise to most of us during the training course as well.