But you won't pay the same way, it's moving to direct debit.

How's it going to go to direct debit?,I run 4 bikes 3 cars and a van their insured all the time but I tax e'm when I need e'm otherwise their in the garage on a sorn.

I see the word your getting hung up on 'Allow' doesn't mean you have too.

You'll still be able to buy tax and pay for it in one lump sum at the post office with cash/cheque, or online with a card. Direct Debit is just going to be an additional way to pay, and they'll charge you an extra 5% for the privilege!

Ok understood. I didnt know that, the website only mentions direct debit, so I assumed direct debit was the only option moving forwards. How did you find out that we'd still be able to pay at the post office?

"From 1 October 2014 motorists will be able to pay vehicle tax by direct debit annually, biannually or monthly"

And the extra 5% surcharge is only if you don't choose annual direct debit.

Which is rediculous when collecting a tax, because the people who are least able to afford it are the ones who will wan to spread the payments, so lets charge those that are least able to afford it an extra 5%

Having released a bit more information about the new vehicle licensing scheme since my OP, it would appear that the biggest change that will affect all of us (at some point) is the fact that the new VED (tax) will not transfer with a vehicle.

According to DVLA:

"From 1 October, when you buy a vehicle, the vehicle tax will no longer be transferred with the vehicle. You will need to get new vehicle tax before you can use the vehicle."

Which kind of implies that the owner is being taxed, not the vehicle?

Just another simple way of taxing our wallets and its disgusting


Xt660x 04

Non-transferable I'm afraid, it's you, not the vehicle it stays with.

It does make it interesting when you buy a second hand vehicle, buy it in the middle of the month and you'll have to pay the backdated RFL, but the current owner will have already paid it, and will loose that month. So for every sale, there will be two months RFL, unless it's sorn'd and picked up a month later.

They would have been better off dispensing with it all together and putting the cost onto fuel as a 1% tax, then everyone would pay a fair amount, big milers would pay more than low milers, gas guzzlers more than economic vehicles, economic drivers more than the heavy foot brigade, and no one could avoid it, so no more un-taxed vehicles and therefore no need for the cost of enforcement. Sure, you'd then pay 'road tax' for your chainsaw and lawn mower, but the amounts would be minimal in the scheme of things, and a few considerate miles would soon give you pay-back.

In Guernsey we don't have road tax. We have the extra duty on fuel. So great, no tax disc you may think. No, we have an insurance disc instead. However if stopped by the police and asked to produce your paperwork, your displayed disc does not count. They need to see the paper counterpart. So you have to ask ,whats the point?

That's what I was alluding to in post #17 ;)

The original draft white paper from last autumn was a bit sketchy on the specifics!

One of the main reasons for introducing the current form of the circular paper disc was to give a visible indication that a vehicle has an MOT and there is valid insurance in place. Now pointless on the mainland too, as its all stored/checked electronically - hence, I guess, the new system.

Agree. You could also shut down a whole department in Swansea and save a sack-load of cash to boot.

I have yet to meet a single sane person who doesn't think that adding the duty to fuel is a good idea... Except successive transport/roads ministers - but then again, I haven't actually met one, and they're probably not sane either?