Forum

[Alan R]

Hi guys---------- Have just downloaded a V10 "Application for a Tax Disc" form and on it is printed}--- "It is an offence to be the registered keeper of a Vehicle that is not taxed"..........Er, do what?.....So a trials, scrambles, speedway bike etc. has to be taxed then ??..........Please tell me this is an error !!

[John L]

Alan - "so a trials, scrambles, speedway bike etc. has to be taxed?" YES........if it has a REGISTERED OWNER.. but how many such bikes would be registered, do you think ? ...and if it ain't taxed, it can always be Sorn'd, of course.......

[Alan R]

Yes, it's that key word "Registered" isn't it ??...

[PeteF]

Couple of related points;
A registered vehicle must be taxed and insured (unless SORNed) even if not being used on the road.
If you buy a SORNed vehicle you need to re-SORN it in your name straight away.

[Alan R]

So just to clarify a point then}--- "Registered" means that the vehicle is intended to be used on Public Roads and you the keeper are declaring this fact by registering it with the DVLA...Hi JOHN L, yes--quite so..I wouldn't want to register any vehicle that I don't intend to use ( or part-use eg Trials bikes going from one section to another on Public roads ) on Public Roads.........Hi PETE F, that's correct ie}-- SORN is not transferrable ( Different owner = different set of circumstances )....................................... Finally, how's this new NO TAX DISC requirement going to be introduced then ??.

[Frank]

vehicle used on the public roads, however short the distance, have to be registered, taxed, mot'd if applicable. I believe certain farm vehicles may be exempt. There was a bill proposed a few years ago designed to make all vehicles wherever they were used subject to the same but thankfully never got through. It was designed primarily to combat the kids on mini motos and those causing a nuisance on trials bikes in the countryside. It would also have included all machines such as competition ones. Basically. If it's used on the road it's got to be fully road legal or it will be subject to seizure and crushing. When I was at school there was a stern warning from the local constabulary that anyone caught pushing a moped to school for a motor mechanics class would be breaking the law and dealt with appropriately. No doubt it was part of some public relations exercise but not one designed to engage with the youth of the day.

[PeteF]

I think farm vehicles need to be registered but don't pay tax.

[Scalyback]

Exempt from tax



Vehicles used just for agriculture, horticulture and forestry


This includes tractors, agricultural engines and light agricultural vehicles used off-road. It also includes ‘limited use’ vehicles used for short journeys (not more than 1.5 kilometres) on the public road between land that’s occupied by the same person.

[Midge]

AlanR Your quote has missed out some information. It needs to be either taxed or SORNed. When the no tax disc requirement comes into force the only change will be that you do not have a physical paper disc. It will still need to be taxed or SORNed, although for vehicles of a certain age it will be a zero charge tax.

[John L]

When the paper tax disc is finally obsolete, presumably it will also remove the possibility of committing any offences relating to it (failure to display, fraudulent conversion of a disc, etc.) - that'll please the lawbreakers.........Under the present arrangements if you take a vehicle off the road and SORN it, or sell a vehicle without passing on the RFL to the new owner, you can surrender the disc to the DVLA for a refund (proportional to its unexpired length) - I wonder what happens with no disc to return? Are tax disc refunds being phased out too ? And what implications does this have for the continuous insurance requirement ?