Car Tax Disc bought on the Internet

[trev81uk]

My tax expires on 30/09/07, and my insurance on the 29/09/07. As I have not yet received my insurance renewal certificate the Post Office would not let me re-license my vehicle.
If I purchase tax over the internet, and I get pulled by the police before it arrives in the post, will I still get fined, or can they search the DVLA database to see that I have renewed?

[kempie]

In the scenario you describe you cannot, of course, be prosecuted for not having paid the tax, however any �mechanically propelled� vehicle when used or kept on a public road must display a valid tax disc. Although there are exemptions to this general rule, none of them apply to your situation.

The penalty for "failure to display" is �60 and is not an endorseable offence.

[lorri24601]

if you do it this way thenwhy not print off the conformation email and keep i the car till disc arrives

[alvin100]

The new DVLA computers are tied in with the police and Insurance company systems. This is how you can apply for tax on line as they can automatically check you are insured and quickly issue the disc.
When you pay on line just keep a note of the reference number, maybe even display it in the car window, so any prowling copper can check you have tax. As long as its only a day or two I think you would be very unlucky to be prosecuted though technically it could happen.

[connor91]

the police only report you to the dvla,its the dvla that take you to court,if you get stopped they will report you,the dvla will take no actoin.-hence --tax in post--

[kempie]

connor91 is incorrect - since the offence of "failing to display" is one of strict liability (i.e. you either have the tax disc on display or you do not) that can be instantaneously ascertained by looking at the windscreen, the police have no need to check with the DVLA and can deal with the offence by issuing a Fixed Penalty Notice of �60.