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Original poster

Car tax online

25 replies

isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 11:48

Went to renew my car tax as it expires today and it won't let me because it says they can't trace my insurance details. The car is insured, it is all legal, but my insurer didn't send my renewal through until this morning, even though the old policy expires at midnight tonight and I was waiting to receive that before I tried to renew the tax. I can't go and do it at the post office as I can't print out the insurance certificate today as I don't have a printer (could get it done on Monday), and in any case the only post office near me that does car tax shuts in about ten minutes.

Years ago you used to have a few days leeway at the beginning and end of the month, do they still do that?

OP posts:
Todaythiscouldbe · 31/08/2019 11:51

No. There's no leeway now. You could have renewed tax up to a month ago, you don't need to wait for new insurance, it's all checked online. If you have insurance it should go through, maybe you need to contact your insurance company to check you're on the insurance database correctly. Or check online yourself if your car shows as insured

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 11:54

But a month ago I wouldn't have been insured for the right dates? I was trying to renew from 1st September, and my current insurance expires on 31st August, so I thought there would be no point in trying to renew because my car wouldn't be insured on 1st September. That's why I was waiting for my new insurance to be arranged...

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Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 11:57

I've never had this problem before, have been a car owner for over 20 years and have been renewing my tax online since it first became available. I rang to try to do it over the phone as I thought that if I could give the policy details they would be able to check manually, but it was all automated so that didn't help either.

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Todaythiscouldbe · 31/08/2019 11:58

You need to check the insurance database then. Does your policy auto renew or is it only renewed on receipt of payment?

Todaythiscouldbe · 31/08/2019 11:59

How did you do it last year?

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 11:59

It's an auto renewal.

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Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 12:00

I did it online last year, and didn't have a problem.

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Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 12:02

The database that is available to the public online says my vehicle is insured.

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Todaythiscouldbe · 31/08/2019 12:04

Ok, you need to intact DVLA, there are options to speak to a person. Failing that keep the car off the road until you buy tax on Monday (post offices are open tomorrow though, do you know anybody with a printer?)

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 12:13

Whilst I was typing this thread I rang the DVLA and they say they can't trace it. Even though they say they use the same database that I have looked up online. Confused. They just told me tough luck, go to the post office. She said I'd have to show a valid MOT certificate and I'm wondering if that is the problem. My car is only 3 years old so it doesn't need one until this time next year.

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Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 12:13

I wonder if this is one of those problems with the different rules in N Ireland...

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Sweetheart1313 · 31/08/2019 12:20

You say it's 3 years old but MOT not due until next year? The first MOT on a car is due 3 years after it was first registered, so if it's a 2016 plate you need to MOT it this year

m0therofdragons · 31/08/2019 12:21

I had this and it was infuriating. My tax was due the day before insurance so the post office refused to let me buy car tax as the insurance documents hadn't been released until they arrived in the post the next day! I ended up getting car tax 2 days late but there's a few days leeway on tax. I did 6 months rather than a year to separate them but that really annoyed me as I had to pay extra for the privilege Angry

Not much help but it's infuriating. I was in the post office with my new born twins and toddler. The woman was rude and I left in tears. All I wanted to do was buy car tax yet she was refusing despite me having the document because it ran out within 48 hours. She then told me that by driving my car the next day I'd be breaking the law!

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 12:27

You say it's 3 years old but MOT not due until next year? The first MOT on a car is due 3 years after it was first registered, so if it's a 2016 plate you need to MOT it this year

Not in N Ireland. It's four years from first registration.

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Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 12:31

I've googled madly and have found a post office that is open until 4pm. Definitely none open on a Sunday. If I can find someone to print my certificate in the next couple of hours and make it to that post office on time, there might be a chance.

Infuriating is exactly what it is, I'm trying to adhere to the law, not trying to dodge it.

OP posts:
Bubblysqueak · 31/08/2019 13:31

My tax runs out tomorrow, I was able to renew last week once I had new mot, my insurance runs out at midnight tonight so I have just sorted that. It's weird it won't let you do it online.

Livebythecoast · 31/08/2019 14:00

Could you save it on a memory stick and take it to your local library. Ours let's you use a computer to print out stuff

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 16:03

Panic over. I got someone with a printer to print it for me and I got to the only post office within about 25 miles that was actually open on a Saturday afternoon.

I still don't understand how I'm using the same insurance company and taxing the same car, both renewables from the same date each year and it's only now that it's suddenly a problem. I miss the days when you could phone the secret phone number and do it that way...

But anyway, it's all done, I'm legal. If a little stressed out with all the running around!

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Foxyloxy1plus1 · 31/08/2019 16:16

I don’t understand why your car doesn’t need an MOT until it’s four years old, when every other one needs one at three years old.

Standard, I thought.

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 16:19

I don’t understand why your car doesn’t need an MOT until it’s four years old, when every other one needs one at three years old.

Because that's the law. Every car in England might need an MOT at 3 years but it's not a UK wide law. I've no idea what it is in Scotland, but in N Ireland it is four years.

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Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 16:21

details here

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BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 31/08/2019 16:28

It's a bit late now but if you have a car from new then it's worth taxing it for 6 months the first time, then for 12 months subsequently so that it's out of sequence and your insurance, tax and MOT don't all roll up on the same date.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 31/08/2019 16:33

It’s also worth taxing your car monthly by direct debit, so when you sell it, if the garage or buyer doesn’t register the change straight away, you don’t lose tax already paid.

Original poster
isabellerossignol · 31/08/2019 16:39

It’s also worth taxing your car monthly by direct debit, so when you sell it, if the garage or buyer doesn’t register the change straight away, you don’t lose tax already paid.

I've always just filled in the form to say I've disposed of the vehicle and then I've claimed the rest of the year back. I'm too tight fisted to pay monthly because I don't want to pay the interest Grin

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Dave21 · 01/09/2019 18:47

Hi I changed my car yesterday had to change ins managed that online was went to tax car managed that had to cancel tax and ins on old car managed to do it with only one phone call for help to ins just have to be patient hope this help you cheers good luck with it

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