Car Tax Disc To Be Scrapped - Autumn Statement 2013

[LazyGun]

Some welcome changes to the car tax disc arrangements announced here;

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/12/05/car-tax_n_4389461.html?utm_hp_ref=george-osborne

[Gizmonster]

Bah .... you got my hopes up then.
The tax duty levied on cars isn't going to be scrapped per se ... it's just that it will all be electronic now - no need to display a tax disc anymore, but the tax system will essentially remain the same ..... bah, humbug ......

[LazyGun]

heh sorry- and there is another thread on this topic in ChatterBank, which I missed when i posted this.

I do mean that the need for displaying a disc will go, and they are going to be introducing monthly direct debit as a means of payment.

[hc4361]

What's the point? A tax disc is still useful, for instance a car can legally park on a street where there is no restrictions if it is taxed. A householder will report it to the police if there is no tax disc and the car hasn't moved from outside their house for a few days. Plenty of stolen/abandoned cars found this way, especially in quiet side streets.

[LazyGun]

@hc its my understanding that real-time access to computer databases has mad the discs obsolete, hc, and that scrapping them does save time and money in administration,both for the recipient and for the issuer.

And implementing monthly DD schemes will certainly be welcomed by many, lathough the 5% surcharge for paying that way less so.

[hc4361]

I agree with the monthly direct debit.

[vulcan42]

Do Traffic Wardens, or whatever they're called these days, have access to computer databases? In My local town they check tax discs on all parked cars so every day there are thousands checked, will this now be lost?

[hc4361]

Yes, Vulcan. Traffic wardens sent reports to the dvla if they see a car not displaying a valid tax disc.
If they see a vehicle displaying a tax disc relating to a different vehicle or altered they call the police who do respond.
Traffic wardens employed by the police can carry out PNC checks over the radio but they can't do that for every car that is parked up.

[vulcan42]

Thanks hc,I certainly agree with direct debit but to remove the disc seems a backward step. Here in N I we also have an MOT disc which is required by law to be on the windscreen and some insurance companies have introduced a disc for current insurance as well. It makes sense to me that a traffic warden, at the moment, can check all three very quickly, and yet when this is introduced s/he wont be able to check anything.

[LazyGun]

That sounds quite a good point actually. Interesting to see if it is raised in the debates following the autumn statement or not

[Coobeastie]

What worries me is that they are are referring to a drop in Police notifications. No mention however of notifications coming from Councils who have taken over a lot of the traffic warden duties now. Councils havent got access to anpr so bye bye to one of the more useful purposes of having ceos/attendants etc.

[ToraToraTora]

Vulcan, warden/plod can check all 3 by the number plate.

[Old_Geezer]

I disagree with DD under any circumstances. Who as the moral right to access to my stash to dip their hand in whenever they wish ? No one ! Better not be considering making it compulsory. We seem to lose rights left right and centre.

[hc4361]

OG, you have a strange view of DD. You authorise a company to take x amount of money out of your account on y date.

They can only take the amount specified on the date specified. If they take more, or on the wrong date, you will be entitled to an immediate refund.

If the company wishes to vary the amount or change the date the company must give you 10 days notice. If you don't agree to it you can cancel the direct debit very easily.

You are needlessly wasting money by refusing to use direct debit.

[ToraToraTora]

don't bother hc, you cannot talk sense to OG on this subject, he prefers all the inconvenience. Anyway it's not madatory is it OG?

[factor-fiction]

I sse direct debits for many things, OG, but have never had a problem with them (apart from once when I changed banks and both seemed to blame the other for not dealing with the transfer correctly). The direct debit guarantee arrangements seems satisfactory too. The terms for paying by DD are sometimes better than for paying by cheque so I see no reason to take the more expensive and inconvenient option of a cheque payment

[jno]

hc, I recently cancelled a direct debit.

Imagine my surprise on getting my next bank statement to find they'd just set it up again. Apparently they can do this with your permission. But they didn't have my permission. And the bank didn't check.

Minefield, if you ask me.

[237SJ]

I wonder if this will deter people from reporting dumped vehicles (thus expediating their removal)? An expired tax disc is a pretty good way of ascertaining whether a vehicle has been dumped. Without that, the public may be less inclined to report.

[hc4361]

jno, did you get your money back? I've cancelled DD by online banking 48 hours before the payment was due and all has been well.

I save massively on my gas, electricity, telephone and broadband bills by paying by DD.