Driving with no road tax

[Silverclarity]

Like many others on here, I too just bought a car with full MOT but no road tax. I changed over my insurance and asked them to fax me a cover note. I then went to post office to get tax.

The post office wont accept faxed copies so now I'm stuck until I receive my documents through the post - god knows how long that will be.

I dont know how I will get to work Monday now and wonder if I should just risk it?

I cant believe this ridiculous system. I dont think its unusual to buy a car with no tax on it. Isnt it about time this was sorted. Im not a tax evader but there is no means for me to pay.

[grasscarp]

What about buying your tax on line. That checks your insurance and MOT automatically. You can then use your car as you have paid.

[ChuckFickens]

isn't there??

http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/

[sara3]

could they not have emailed the cover note for you to print?

[jack daniels]

get them to post the cover note to you & you'll be able to tax the car, until then you'll have to either go online or find other means of getting to work

[Silverclarity]

I bought the car on the spot - hence not sorted anything. I dont think it's unusual to do this.
I can get my tax online, because until the DVLA (whom I've rung), receive the V10 document I'm not the registered owner.
The only way is to go to post office with the new keeper document and insurance cover note.
I have emailed insurance company asking if they could email me cover note but again, I dont think the post office will accept anything but the real thing. Plus, my insurance company is not open today so I cant get anything until Monday.
Just stuck I guess. Just seems foolish all the hoops we drivers have to jump through and we are the honest ones!

[Silverclarity]

That should say, 'cant get online'

[Silverclarity]

I had to get a car at the weekend.
What I should have done is irrelevant - I'm looking for solutions.

I still maintain that it is not unusual to buy on the spot.
Open your mind a bit.

[rnchugg]

Similiar ish problem happened to me, I spoke to the insurance company and the post office and our local post office said if the Insurance company can fax the post office poof of insurance you can tax it there and then, as long as you have proof of address, ownership of car (e.g green slip and reciept) then they can tax it. I am NOT sure if all post offices do this but ours did (even on a sunday)

[CherryBea24]

If you drive the car without a current tax disc you wil be fined and your taken away which will cost you even more about £150 per day, also you have to have all three elements in place eg valid Tax, MOT and Insurance to be able to drive, if you have no tax you have no insurance either as they won't pay I dread to think of the consequenses for you if this happened you could end up in jail, not worth the risk in my opinion. Sorry but that is how it stands in this country and a good thing too.

You can also be fined for incorrect display of a tax disc it has to be in a certain place on the windscreeen.

Hope it makes you think first

Cherry

[ChuckFickens]

Having no tax does not invalidate insurance, that is a total myth.

[Silverclarity]

I dont like the implication from some people that I'm some kind of impetuous criminal!!!
I'm a hard working law abiding citizen. My old car packed up on me last Friday and in order to continue working (my job involves lots of driving) - I had to buy a car on Saturday - hence I could not prearrange tax etc.

Thank for to those whose commments were helpful.

[bob57]

I am not going to comment on this subject as much as the others
all I am going to say is you take your car on the road without no road tax you are liable to have it taken away for crushing that puts you back to square 1 but in a worse position no car all the problems of getting to work by public transport and maybe if you already have points on your licence that takes you to the toting up limit no licence then after that problems with future insurance
at the end of the day is it worth it to take the risk of driving your new car with no road tax
I think not

[lukey121]

Yes, drive the car. What did you do in the end?