Yes. It is not possible to tax a car UNLESS it is insured, so it has to be permitted. You cannot take it to an MoT station unless it is insured but you can take it if it is not taxed. You can only take it for an MoT if it has a current MoT OR you have booked it in in advance.
not arguing against that - but do you know my solicitor told me that if an uninsured driver is at fault in an accident - the victim can claim of some other organisation (don't remember the name) that covers the uninsured.
I'm just thinking last month I got my car MOT- they just allowed me to pick a date but never asked about tax or insurance - (I think) but know you just have to go online and find out. Think I'm right tho.
Just looking at any car won't tell you if it is taxed or not. No Licence to display in windscreen. Some but not all Police Cars have ANPR to help them identify untaxed/uninsured vehicles. There are also some ANPR cameras at fixed points on some roads.
They don't have to tax a car that's off tge road. But now-a-days you have to declare it ofg-road by SORN. I think it's a money making exercise fining those that don't.