What happens if you are late getting your car tax? Am worried!

[notveryorganised]

Realised on friday that I have 'misplaced' my MOT certificate, was looking for it as car taxdue tomorrow.Rang the garage that did it for advice and they suggested getting it re- mot'd as it is due in 3 weeks anyway.I am having this done tomorrow in which case it will be fine as can go straight to get car tax.

However if it doesnt pass and it needs to stay in the garage I will be stuffed!

How strict are the car tax people, will i get fined for getting it a few days late, do you get points on your licence (that would be worse .

Probably worrying (as usual) about nothing but any info would be appreciated!

I phoned up the DVLA in Swansea a couple of years ago about this as I had done exactly the same, they said not to worry they were concentrating on people a couple of months out of date not a fortnight! Try not to worry.

Could you renew your tax online then you wouldn't need your MOT certificate?

Somebody said on another thread you have 14 days to get it

If your MOT was a new one (not handwritten), you can do it all online and they will already have the details when you enter your registration number.

That was me re the 14 days, but then I remembered it is different in Nortern Ireland. So I may be a liar lar pants on fire.

AFAIK - there is no longer any leeway or 'grace' period. They won't chase you for it from the DVLA but if you get stopped or checked by police then they will 'do' you.

Oh God!

What would the police do! I can cope with a fine as it is my own stupid fault but do i get a criminal record or something !!

God sorry - I didn't mean to panic you....am sure in this case they would let you off anyway if you explained the situation!

I was just giving the rules AFAIK/ remember...

have you not tried online?

I would try online as long as your insurance is up to date & you have 3 weeks to go on the MOT.

Here

Hi Wisteria

thought about doing it online but it will take about five working days to get the disc according to the website. Am really really worried about driving around in the meantime without the disc as I drive as part of my job and also have to pass through a 'checkpoint' (there are loads of police and they pull over cars at random and check all the details) or whatever they call them' daily.

Am so bloody annoyed with myself at having lost the MOT cert!!!

You get a confirmation email which you can print to show- you might still get a ticket if you parked on the street, but would presumably get off on appeal - or you could try leaving the print out visible through your windscreen.

If you have paid online then you are okay to drive with no disc. I know this as I bought my new disc, went on a last minute holiday to my mum and forgot my new tax disc (dur...!)
I was really worried about the 4 hour drive home so rang the DVLA and they said the police woudl check their computer if they stopped me and it would show the car is taxed so would be no problem (apart from talking to about not forgetting to put it in the car before driving halfay across the country!)

If you don't do it online then you can't dreive i ton the roads, no amount of excuse would stop them taking your car/fining you.
If you do it online as Rusty says you get a confirmation so you can prove it has been paid.