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Original poster

Car tax is there a grace period before you get fined?

22 replies

Woeismethischristmas · 10/04/2022 13:09

I normally pay by Direct debit. For some reason it didn’t automatically renew ( failure to tick a box last year when I set it up). It would of run out on 31st of March. Set up new DD today when I realised, they backdate the tax from the 1st April but will I still get a fine for being untaxed in the interim?

OP posts:
PastMyBestBeforeDate · 10/04/2022 13:11

A couple of weeks should be fine. Especially as you've done it before anyone's flagged it to you.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 10/04/2022 13:12

You have til the middle of the month- you're fine don't worry x

IcedOatLatte · 10/04/2022 13:14

@DueyCheatemAndHow

You have til the middle of the month- you're fine don't worry x
Pretty sure that's rubbish, there's no grace period but I dont know if that means you'll automatically get a fine though

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DropYourSword · 10/04/2022 13:19

But..if it's backdated then you weren't untaxed, right?

Original poster
Woeismethischristmas · 10/04/2022 14:56

Well I suppose as of today the records would show continuous tax but wasn’t sure if they will generate a fine in the meantime automatically or if they monitor for untaxed cars on roads although I’m pretty rural and haven’t gone to town or any main roads this month will cross my fingers and hope for the best.

OP posts:
DrWhoNowww · 10/04/2022 15:19

They monitor through ANPR - it’s not automatic, they have to catch you driving without tax.

If you haven’t had a fine by now it’s unlikely you’ll get one.

Horcruxe · 10/04/2022 15:20

You only get fines if you get caught

tapdancingmum · 10/04/2022 15:25

Mines due end of April and one year I totally forgot until the middle of June. Taxed it, they backdated to April and no fines. Have no idea how I forgot and now pay it as soon as I get the reminder. I had a revelation driving into Morrisons car park that I hadn't taxed it and did it as soon as I got home. It's only £30 but must have just put the reminder down and completely forgot about it. So, on that basis a few days shouldn't hurt.

CharityShopChic · 10/04/2022 15:26

No there is no grace period.

In the old days of paper tax discs there was a week or so grace period to allow for postal delays if discs arrived in the post. Now it's all online.

Being caught is fairly likely too. Most police cars are fitted with ANPR which sounds a "bing" if the car drives past a car which has no tax, insurance or MOT. The police don't have to actively be stopping you or looking for people without tax or insurance.

Just organise the tax. You cannot legally drive your car - or even leave it parked on a public road - without tax. If you cannot afford the tax, you can declare a SORN but again, this means you have to keep it off the road in a garage or parked on private land - and have to tax it again before you use it.

viques · 10/04/2022 15:29

@CharityShopChic

No there is no grace period.

In the old days of paper tax discs there was a week or so grace period to allow for postal delays if discs arrived in the post. Now it's all online.

Being caught is fairly likely too. Most police cars are fitted with ANPR which sounds a "bing" if the car drives past a car which has no tax, insurance or MOT. The police don't have to actively be stopping you or looking for people without tax or insurance.

Just organise the tax. You cannot legally drive your car - or even leave it parked on a public road - without tax. If you cannot afford the tax, you can declare a SORN but again, this means you have to keep it off the road in a garage or parked on private land - and have to tax it again before you use it.

Phew, that could have been a disaster. Thank goodness the OP realised what had happened and sorted the tax issue in their opening post!
Illwithdisappointment · 10/04/2022 15:32

I had no tax for 8 months once. I'm not at all justifying it as I was horrified. I had it in my mind that it was due the same time as my MOT and only realised it had expired when I took my car for MOT.
Nothing has happened to me yet but I'm more careful now.

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 10/04/2022 15:59

I didn't last year when I managed to miss the fact it was due. Like a pp it was always with my mot until covid 6 month mot exemption. It's in my phone now.

Karatema · 10/04/2022 16:05

@Horcruxe

You only get fines if you get caught
This is not true, nowadays, but the letters are usually sent several weeks after tax due!
Illwithdisappointment · 10/04/2022 17:17

Do they even send letters any more for tax? They used to but I've not had one in years. I didn't realise they had stopped and never really worried about tax as the letter was always a reminder. I think historically I'd remember because my tax was fairly expensive. However it's now only £30 a year, so I don't budget for it like I used to.

Horcruxe · 10/04/2022 17:27

I was on mat leave .

My car was on my drive.

I wasnt driving for a couple of months and left the tax for a few months.

It didnt make a difference. Saved the tax for a few months.

User748956 · 10/04/2022 17:27

DH and I both got the reminder form in the post, mine is £0 but I still have to go through the motions of getting tax. You won't get a fine OP because you bought it a bit late, only if the ANPR got you or you got stopped by the police

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 10/04/2022 17:40

We have just taxed a car we purchased and had to wait for logbook (been through salvage process, previous owner sorned it, no logbook with the vehicle so had to apply with v62 and wait)
When I taxed it the online form said “this cars SORN ended on 1st of March and you have taxed from 1st April, you may be contacted and asked to explain the gap (or something to that effect).
It is not the first time I’ve had this warning (we deal with cars) I have NEVER been contacted and asked to explain the gap.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 10/04/2022 17:50

@Illwithdisappointment

Do they even send letters any more for tax? They used to but I've not had one in years. I didn't realise they had stopped and never really worried about tax as the letter was always a reminder. I think historically I'd remember because my tax was fairly expensive. However it's now only £30 a year, so I don't budget for it like I used to.
Yeah, I still get a letter each year and so does DH.

Is your address up to date?

LemonDrizzles · 10/04/2022 17:59

Not sure but we did the same in December. Paid in the middle of the month, due on 30 Nov! We haven't received a fine....yet

liveforsummer · 11/04/2022 05:41

@Illwithdisappointment

Do they even send letters any more for tax? They used to but I've not had one in years. I didn't realise they had stopped and never really worried about tax as the letter was always a reminder. I think historically I'd remember because my tax was fairly expensive. However it's now only £30 a year, so I don't budget for it like I used to.
Yes, I always get a letter
AlexaShutUp · 11/04/2022 06:28

I get a letter too. Check your address details if you don't!

JemimaTiggywinkle · 11/04/2022 07:33

Not sure, but for future years (or anyone else who is interested) you can go on the gov website and set up text reminders for tax and MoT.

I very annoyingly got fined even though my car tax is £0. Moved house and forgot to change address.

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