A Rant

[fraggie]

Right well basically as you all know on monday i purchased a car to tide me over whilst my calibra is off the road. So monday night i phoned up the insurance company to change my insurance from my cally to the new car.

"Oh we will send it first class so should arrive with you shortly".

Fair enough i thought. The new car is currently sorn so i couldn't drive it away. Past goes Tuesday and Wednesday without even a flutter of the letter box opening.

Today I phoned up the DVLA to ask what my options are to tax the car (to give them my damned money!) Either I can wait for my documents to come through (ive already waited 3 days and ive lost business because I cant make it) or I can tax it online. Great I thought, until i realise you have to wait 3 - 5 days for the tax to come through. I said to the woman because its taxed and paid for online i should be able to drive the car right?

"Nope to drive a car without the disc is an offence" fantastic!

But the police will have the information that the car is insured taxed and MOT'ed right?

"Yes but you will still be prosecuted for driving without a disc" great!

Ok, ill get the insurance company to fax the document straight to the post office.

"Sorry the post office will only accept original copies of the documents" awesome!

Ok, well ill just go and tax it at the local DVLA office as they have the DVLA computer system so should be able to see that ive been insured on the damned car for 3 days now!

"The local DVLA offices don't have access to the information so you would still need the original documents"

Im sorry whats that? The DVLA doesn't have access to the DVLA information? All i want to do is pay my damned tax!

What is the point in having a fully computerised system, when you still rely on crappy bits of paper being delayed the the Royal Pain In The Arse (TM). Lets face it every bleeder else has my information on a few discs that have been lost, they will all be able to see that I can tax my car legally, but your local offices cant...

"I am terminating this call now, goodbye..... 'beeep'"


Rude bitch :roll:

Im not saying the system is flawed... well actually yes i am.

So anybody know of any way around this rubbish or what the punishment is for driving without a disc in the window? Ive basically lost 3 days worth of business because of this so far and with no end post in sight im up a certain creak without a certain propulsion instrument.

Cheers

Bill

[joshwa]

It's a crap system.

But once you have all the documents (MOT, Insurance, V5), you get the tax disc instantly in the post office. Which is quite nice.

I had the same problem, but decided to wait for the insurance docs rather than have them post me a tax disc. The only problem with that is that mine's on classic insurance so they sent temporary insurance docs until I told them the mileage of the car ! Meaning I had to wait another 3 days before taxing the car.

Josh

[usxhe190]

yep rant away, typically UK systems made by monkeys...

[fraggie]

well what do you know. 5 minutes after i posted this topic the post arrived (blooming late!) and my insurance docs were in there

Ranting gets results!

[SilentDeath]

**** it. Had same problem when I got the saab. I drove it anyway.. if anyone stopped me for it I probably would have tryed to run them over.

[Guy]

Whilst trying to re-tax the subaru I had a similar problem, I did it online but it didnt turn up in the post, so rang up the DVLA and was told we'l send out a replacement, I asked wether I was ok to drive in the mean time, assuming that because I had paid etc, that I would be taxed on the database, but oh no was told that because I wouldnt be displaying a valid tax disc I wud be driving illegally.

What is the point in having a database containing these records, which would take no more than a min for the police to check, if theres still a ridiculously outdated law saying you still legally have to display a tax disc!

Argh Rant over!

And on a more postive note, got the dealer to tax the mondeo before I picked it up.

[SilentDeath]

Yep where ever possible get the dealer to tax it before sale. LOT easier...

BUT TAXed VS no tax disk is much simpler! If its taxed, you have done all you can. If you were taken to court you would probably be let off if there is suffient proof that you done all you could and have the (serveral months old, by now) tax disk to prove it.

However not having the tax on display works differently. Nothing to do with driving it.. infact thats probably safest (becuase you will only get caught by a copper and then you get a chance to voice an opionon)
If its on the road, basicly anywhere but your own private garage, they will try to clamp it.. wouldn't surprise me if they tryed to clamp a lot of cars on peoples driveways...


Therefore the safest place, is the secured work carpark

[Behemoth]

That reminds me, my tax is due on New Years Eve !!

[Clstrphbc_donut]

I was told its legal to drive if you have no/an expired tax disc but have paid your tax and are awaiting your new tax disc. Good job I went to the PO and got my disc there and then!

[Guy]

I was told its legal to drive if you have no/an expired tax disc but have paid your tax and are awaiting your new tax disc. Good job I went to the PO and got my disc there and then!

No its illegal to be driving on public roads without displaying a valid tax disc.

[Tumble]

They give you a week's grace over here to get your tax sorted I adore not having to deal with the DVLA to tax my car... never have I spoken to more obstructive and unhelpful "Customer Service" operatives in my life.

[0iD]

They give you a week's grace over here to get your tax sorted I adore not having to deal with the DVLA to tax my car... never have I spoken to more obstructive and unhelpful "Customer Service" operatives in my life.

That's cos you're one of them thar foreigners innit!

[chrestomanci]

I know it does not help you now as you have allready brought insurance on that car, but one solution for next time would be to buy insurance in person from a broker on the high street, as they will be able to give you a certificate right away, which you can take straight to the post office.

Perhaps you could phone up your current insurance company, and tell them how much business you are loosing through not having a certificate, and if they don't courier one to you immedately, you will be exercising your right to cancel (for a full refund less time on risk), and getting some insurance from a high street broker.