Insurance Co's advising DVLA

[jumbokey]

Is there any legal requirement for insurance companies to advise DVLA that a particular vehicle has insurance cover? (I have Saga in mind) If not it makes a joke of the "tax your car on line" effort by the DVLA.

[hc4361]

Nobody informs the DVLA.
The DVLA checks the MID database. You can check your own vehicle, at no cost, here
http://www.askmid.com/
The insurance company is legally obliged to pass the details to MID as soon as is practicable.

[hc4361]

http://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPortalApp/ application?origin=commonquestions_en.jsp&even t=bea.portal.framework.internal.portlet.event& pageid=Common+Questions&portletid=commonquesti ons&wfevent=insurance&EVENT_SUB_TYPE=FAQIF&FAQ =ins&language=en
This may explain your problem.

[jumbokey]

Many thanks HC. My car is on the MID database 'as at today'. Both tax and current insurance expire 31 March but I can't tax it from April due to 'no insurance' despite having received all the paperwork from Saga. . I suppose the answer lies in 'as soon as is practicable'

[hc4361]

It's because your insurance is due to expire. If you buy car tax today it will be valid from 1st April, when your insurance will have expired.
I suggest you tax the car for 6 months this time, then you'll be able to tax it for one year on line from there.

[Panic Button]

... or go down to the Post Office and do it the old way.