Bloody Road Tax

[Andy Smith FZS]

Finally got the bike mot'd.

went to the post office to get my road tax.  I didn't have any before going.
I went for 6 months but the guy said it doesn't start until the start of July?

Is that right?

Can you get instant road tax?


Andy

[nick crisp]

I always thought you could get it backdated to the start of the current month?

[Punkstig]

Wtf?
When you go to the post office so long as all your paperwork's in order (mot, v5 and insurance it starts the very same day)
I did exactly this the day I picked my bike up, got owner to drive me down post office, taxed it, rode it home!

[nick crisp]

Wtf?
When you go to the post office so long as all your paperwork's in order (mot, v5 and insurance it starts the very same day)

You sure? I didn't think you could get a tax disc that started in the middle of a month?

[Dcock]

Pretty sure you can get tax whenever. The thing is no matter when you get the tax it always starts from the beginning of the month. So if you went to get it today it would start from the beginning of June. You definitely don't have to wait until July to get tax. I mean if you don't want to pay for tax from the beginning of June then yeah you have no choice but to wait, but you can definitely get tax now if you want it.

[nick crisp]

That's about what I thought.

[bandit]

Dcock you are correct as you said back dated to 30/5/13 or wait & tax on or after 1st July.

[robby boy]

Pretty sure you can get tax whenever. The thing is no matter when you get the tax it always starts from the beginning of the month. So if you went to get it today it would start from the beginning of June. You definitely don't have to wait until July to get tax. I mean if you don't want to pay for tax from the beginning of June then yeah you have no choice but to wait, but you can definitely get tax now if you want it.

DVLA are a government agency, if you want to loose half a months tax they ain't gonna argue.

[red98]

yep,as above....if you cant wait (if its a fazer,then you cant  :lol ) you just loose whats already spent of this month....done it lots of times 

[yamy]

hi buddy do it on line so much easier and your covered the same day

[Stooby2]

Don't do it online if you have no tax atm - you aren't "covered" as there's still the offence of failing to display a valid disc - and there are some target hungry PCSO's out there who will happily give you ticket. The post office can happily an issue you a tax disc, but as others have stated, it'll run from the end of May. Just done this myself for another bike I've just bought.

[yamy]

I've always done it on line and never had a problem

[darrsi]

Dcock you are correct as you said back dated to 30/5/13 or wait & tax on or after 1st July.

What happened to the 31st  :look

[Andy Smith FZS]

Cheers for the replies.

I'm positive it is actually valid because it runs out on the 31 of November.
I did doubt at the time what the guy was saying.
It was my first time getting tax when its not just a renewal.

Was in a rush after the mot to get the tax. Took the wrong v5 down initially had to go home to get the correct one mintues before they closed. 

Took it out the back roads last night for the first time.
weather was abit iffy but didn't stop me giving it some.

On a side note where do you all display your tax?
The holder I have was held on by one of the front caliper bolts.

[nick crisp]

As far as I'm aware, you're supposed to display it somewhere at the front l/h side of the vehicle, but "clearly displayed" seems to be enough on a bike in practice. The Oxford Products Taxband is a nice way of doing it, different coloured anodised end caps available to suit your bike.

[darrsi]

My tax disc holder is held on to the left fork by the bolt that holds the brake line in place.

[stevierst]

The cops are not too bothered where you put it, as long as it's displayed.
I've heard that some put colour photocopies on the bike and carry the original under the seat so if it gets nicked, it doesn't matter.

[otis]

If push came to shove, the tube type tax disc holders are not legal as they do not show the reg # only the valid date so it could be for any bike/car. Most plods don't bother but if they wanted to you could get a ticket. :eek
ps I have my disc holder on the left pillion peg hanger.
The reason they say the left is so that the traf warden doesn't have to step off the pavement/onto the road to read

[andybesy]

Mines towards the rear, sharing the bolt which attaches the chain guard.

Andy

[Andy FZS]

Mine is on bolt that holds the side covers on the radiator, so lhs in front of me.
Andy