Driving without Tax

Mc Love

Ok will be bringing car back from the UK, but it doesnt have tax, doesnt have MOT as its not old enough yet but it will be insured by my insurer, will i get into trouble if stopped by PC Plod while driving from Dealer to ferry?

I know some people on here have come back with no problems, and the fact that you need to have an address in the UK to get the car taxed would be a problem.

cantdecide

From what I've heard, over the years, this would be considered a not un-serious offence. I would think about trailering it to the ferry at least.

If it's an older/ tatty car, they might seize it. From what I hear, they might seize it anyway. I think what you're talking about is chancing not getting caught because I doubt you can talk your way around this...

Mc Love

Tax is only 35 GBP which isnt a lot, but the car is being exported to Ireland

Paulyh

but surely you will have all the documents with you and the recept (?) stating that you just bought it. you'll also have your irish drivers license.
i'm not saying that means your above the law, but surely they have some 'grace' time to get from the dealers to your home.

maybe the dealer might organise to have it bought to the ferry for you, that way its there problem till there.

corktina

as it doesnt need an MoT and you will have proof of insurance with you and proof that you just bought it and havent been able to tax it yet (as you havent got the V5 yet) you will PROBABLY get away with it if stopped.
it depends on the copper really.In theory he could seize it for having no tax but I think its more the Insurance and MoT they would be concerned about. My only worry would be as you would be heading for the boat, he might realise you have no intention of taxing it even once you have the V5.

What I did once was taxed the vehicle three or four days before the end of the month (from the start of the NEXT month) and then drove it to the ferry and posted off the tax disc (before the start of the month) and got a full refund.....(you would be refunded for any complete unused month)

cantdecide

corktina wrote: »

and havent been able to tax it yet (as you havent got the V5 yet)

He should have the V5 in his hand, right? I got into trouble the first time I got a UK car by letting the seller post the V5 to the DVLA. The VRO told me to get the DVLA to return it to me because they have to declare it imported. Which I did.

Forest Master

cantdecide wrote: »

not un-serious

I think they have a shorter word for that.

cantdecide

Gimme your badge number.

rebel.ranter

I (unwittingly) did this the last time I bought a car in the UK. I managed to drive into the centre of London without getting any hassle (coming from Whitstable in Kent. I parked it up in an underground car park over night. It was only when I got to Fishguard that the customs guy asked me if I was exporting the car, he commented on the car not having road tax. He then proceeded to tell me how to wash it properly.
I was lucky I didn't get stopped I suppose. The next time I do it I'll be sure to get the vendor to tax it for the minimum period.

kdevitt

There are a lot of ANPR's set up on the way to Holyhead, with squad cars waiting ahead to pull in untaxed / un'MOT'd and SORN'd cars. I decided against taking the risk with my last car and had it transported to Holyhead - got on the ferry in Dublin as a foot passenger, hopped off and into my car and straight back on the ferry!

Max_Damage

Forest Master wrote: »

I think they have a shorter word for that.

Doubleplus ungood.

Mc Love

So the opinion would be to get it taxed to remove any risk?

Henry Ford III

Mc Love wrote: »

So the opinion would be to get it taxed to remove any risk?

Yes.

Mc Love

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Yes.

Thanks HF :cool:

_Kaiser_

Mc Love wrote: »

So the opinion would be to get it taxed to remove any risk?

If its only £35 it's a small price to pay for peace of mind on the trip home.. you can enjoy the car rather than warily watching every speed camera and squad car you see

corktina

cantdecide wrote: »

He should have the V5 in his hand, right? I got into trouble the first time I got a UK car by letting the seller post the V5 to the DVLA. The VRO told me to get the DVLA to return it to me because they have to declare it imported. Which I did.

he wont be able to tax it on the V5 though as it wont be in his name

corktina

£35 sounds cheap to me

Mc Love

Will ring the garage and see if they can tax it for me, then I can post disc back and they can get refund

Henry Ford III

Mc Love wrote: »

Will ring the garage and see if they can tax it for me, then I can post disc back and they can get refund

For 3 months tax? Best of luck with that.

macplaxton

corktina wrote: »

What I did once was taxed the vehicle three or four days before the end of the month (from the start of the NEXT month)

How did you manage that Corky? For as long as I remember, if you weren't continuing a current disc, you could only buy a disc no more than two days in advance if starting a disc from the 1st the following month.

Regarding refunds. You do indeed get every whole unexpired month back, so If taking out for the period of 1 month:

A or B petrol/diesel £35 disc (only available as 12 months) you get 11/12 of £35. = £32.08

For a 1550cc+ pre-2001 £104.50 (6 month disc) - 6 months discs where available are half the cost of a 12 month disc, but incur a surcharge of 10% which isn't refundable. So the refund is based on 5/6 of £95 = £79.17.

Refunds can be issued if your name isn't on the V5C as long as a covering letter explaining the situation accompanies the V14 refund application form.

The official line is that a tax disc (and disc displayed) is needed if driving it to port (from the horse's mouth at the DVLA just there)*. Whilst some (myself included) have had no bother getting to port with less than the required, it really leaving you luck down to an enforcement officer's mood on the day, which can vary wildly.

*There is some sort of "personal export" scheme for brand new cars, but AFAIK you need a temporary registration issued and a tax disc (which might be free)

kilasser

Henry Ford III wrote: »

For 3 months tax? Best of luck with that.

You cant tax a car in the UK for three months, only options are six months or twelve. There will be no problem getting a refund.

uoluol

You guys have all been unlucky or maybe my OH has been lucky! Over the past 3 years he has imported 2 different cars, both with expired tax, but insured and with all the relevant documentation. I was with him on both occasions, and we were not stopped en route to Holyhead, and got no hassle at all from customs. He was more anxious driving here, waiting for the VRT etc to be sorted out. I'd be inclined to risk it, but I seem to be very much against the grain.

JCDUB

I wouldn't bother taxing it. You'd want to meet a copper in a real stinker to do you for that. You're about to leave the country, V5 in hand, I'd take my chances anyhow.

Mc Love

They have asked me for insurance cover note to tax the car so I assume they want the car taxed before leaving forecourt

Dave147

I just brought in a 1.8TQS from Luton, drove to Wales without even considering taxing it, I'm exporting the car, I'm not going to the hassle of taxing it or organising a trailer, this is the 5th time I've done it and never considered taxing it nor will I ever.

dirtydiesel

Ask the dealer to tax it for you, its a small price to pay for piece of mind.

Big Nasty

dirtydiesel wrote: »

Ask the dealer to tax it for you, its a small price to pay for piece of mind.

+1 on that.

For the sake of £35!

On a side note a guy I know got stopped recently on the way back to Holyhead after picking up a car. He was driving with garage insurance and they told him he was covered to drive an IR reg car in the UK on his insurance not a UK car. Had to leave the car, get a taxi to Holyhead and come back the next day in a truck to pick it up.

Anyone else hear of this happening?

corktina

they are really clamping down and whatever you might think the facts are, if they decide they are going to lift your car, you can expect big bills and major inconveniance....not worth it for (in this case) £35.

I was driving my UK car in the UK (which actually belongs to my son ) on my irish insurance until recently but have now taken out UK insurance just in case