50% Reduction Of Road Tax

[furrypusscat]

I am in receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and am entitled to 50% reduction in vehicle road tax. If I was entitled to free road tax the government web site stipulates that I can nominate another driver but that driver must only use the vehicle by or on behalf of the disabled person i.e. picking up prescriptions etc, which I appreciate. However, under the reduction, this phrase is missing and as I would be paying 50% of the road tax, is there likely to be any comeback if husband used the vehicle for his personal use. I really need clarification as I would not wish to break the law or possibly have an insurance claim refused using this as a get out. I would have emailed DVLA to ascertain the position but they are not using the email system due to the Covid crisis and if I phone them, I will not have any written proof of the position. Could anyone please advise. Is anyone in the same position. DVLA website link is here.

https://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vehicles-and-transport

[dannyk13]

If you are entitled to a Blue Badge your local authority should provide you with the rules concerning its use.

[Mamyalynne]

This site mentions a nominated driver.

https://www.disabledviewuk.com/road-tax-50-reduction/

[furrypusscat]

Thank you dannyk. My query is about car tax not Blue Badge.

[furrypusscat]

Thank you Mamy. I will look at the link.

[dannyk13]

Sorry.

[furrypusscat]

That's okay dannyk. Thanks anyway.

[Peter Pedant]

// If you are entitled to a Blue Badge your local authority should provide you with the rules concerning its use.//

yeah but no but - have I misread? this is not about a blue badge but use of the car ....

( I have PIP but a motility car) - the rule seems straightforward innit? to be used with you in the car or for your purposes

what is the question - will they find out? I was video'd once staggering in to the passenger seat of the car

and what happens if they do -- I think it is very unlikely - very unlikley but you may get onto the naughty pussy cat part of caught on camera

[bednobs]

from Mamya's link it seems pretty clear you CANNOT do what you are proposing

[furrypusscat]

Thank you Peter P and bednobs. I agree bednobs having looked at the link Mamy gave, then husband cannot use for his personal use but if you were to look at the DVLA site, it reads slightly different as the same phrase is not under both headings. The reduction which is a separate heading does not state that a nominated driver cannot drive for his personal use.
I think it is a very grey area, hence I need clarification before I go ahead. I will only go ahead if DVLA can confirm my husband can drive for his own use but would also like this in writing.
I just wondered if others in the same situation had come across this.

[bednobs]

I didn't even realise there was a 50% category. I used to get the 100% reduction, but gave it up when my husband had his car broken and was using mine for a bit, and since then I haven't bothered to renew, as he occasionally still uses it and like you I did not want to fall foul of the law

[bednobs]

also, my tax is so low nowadays, it seems far too much of a faff

[bednobs]

also I'm probably not still eligible

[Chinajan]

From the government website:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dvla-coronavirus-covid-19-update

'Guidance
DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update
Our online services have not been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and are running as normal.'

Contact them by email:

https://www.gov.uk/contact-the-dvla

[furrypusscat]

bednobs just in case you want to know, if you are still on DLA High Rate mobilty you will still be entitled to free road tax or mobility car which includes road tax but if you have had to transfer onto PIP, the mobility is either Enhanced where the above applies or if Standard then you cannot get a mobility car and the road tax becomes 50% reduction.
Chinajan, thank you. I have tried unsuccessfuly to email them, having gone through the system putting bullets in appropriate places on about 5 pages to find that when done, statement says that online/email enquiries cannot be dealt with due to Coronavirus and you need to ring. Seems like I am going round in circles.
Thank you to all who have supplied advice on this. I may wait till all this is over when normal services will be resumed.

[ABerrant]

VED exemptions and reductions all stem from the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (as amended).

Exemption for disabled people is set out in Schedule 2 (Para 19) and the stipulation for those eligible begins:
"A vehicle is an exempt vehicle when it is being used, or kept for use, by or for the purposes of a disabled person..."

and subsequently continues:
"a vehicle is deemed to be registered under this Act in the name of..." [an eligible disabled person] "...if it is so registered in the name of..." (a) an appointee, or (b) a nominated person.


Reduction for disabled people is set out in Schedule 1 (Para 1ZA) and the stipulation for the 50% rate for those eligible begins:
"This paragraph applies to a vehicle when it is being used, or kept for use, by or for the purposes of a disabled person..."

and subsequently continues:
"a vehicle is to be treated as registered under this Act in the name of..." [an eligible disabled person] "...if registered in the name of..." (a) an appointee, or (b) a nominated person.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1994/22/contents

It appears to me that use of the car is identical in both cases i.e. not for the personal use of appointee or nominated person.

[furrypusscat]

ABerrant. Thank you so much for this information.