OT: Car Tax

ANPR

They send you a reminder, you pay, they update the database, no disc.

you can shop people...did one last week

... and as someone just above said, ANPR. Cameras on main roads (and elsewhere) check your numberplate and if your car is untaxed you will be chased up. Also police will routinely check that any vehicle they stop has valid tax.

"anyone" can check online

Anyone can look on the UK.Gov data base to see if a car is taxed, insured and if over 3 years old has a MOT (yearly safety and emissions test) Police have access to more information in the same way.

The Police also have camera vans (ANPR Automatic Number Plate Recognition) that they routinely position on roads that can near instantly determine if the vehicle is taxed or if it is wanted in connection of a crime. A patrol car is also positioned further up the road to stop such vehicles.

there's still such a tax. Anyone who needs to know can check on the DVLA website.

One oe the few reasons you see wheel-clamped cars now ...

ANPR. Most cctv cameras are linked to the automatic number plate recognition system and those with no current tax are eventually stopped by the nick nick brigade. Brian

Which includes the Spanish police. One got towed and impounded recently near my holiday home. Every one said "why was parked legally" then checked the above....

Dave

It seems to me that the fairer way would be to stick it on the fuel with a way to know if your vehicle is likely to wear out the roads more or less. Of course drivers of heavier electric vehicles might end up paying more. Brian

You pay it and if you dont your number plate is added to the registry of ANPR cameras and you will get e knock on the door

There's no need for ANPR for routine enforcement. The "continuous taxation" system means every car must have either tax or a ‘Statutory Off Road Notification’ (SORN). If it's neither then DVLA know where the register keeper lives (unless you are cheating on that too) and sends notice of the fine.

How do you differentiate the electricity (fuel) used to charge a EV from that used by a family that don't own a car.

You make "smart" chargers* mandatory

Which all become “dumb” in the absence of an internet connection (but are still capable of charging a car).

It’s also possible to charge an EV (slowly) from a three pin plug. Good luck sorting out where the electricity is being used then.

Tim

Ok, so it's all on computer instead. Still not sure how to proceed on this one. I'm supposed to be collecting a vintage car from Northampton and plan to drive it to Southampton and get a ferry from there. I'll be passing probably dozens of ANPR cameras en route so if this car's not taxed (I don't know yet one way or the other; still waiting for clarfication from the seller) I'll probably get a tug. I don't know what classic tax is in the UK these days, but I'm guessing it's *way* less than a fine would be. Is it possible to purchase one day's road tax specifically for this sort of situation like you can in places like Switzerland?

If you're buying it, it definitely won't be taxed (it's not transferable to new owners) you have to tax it for min 6 months, then collect any whole calendar months as a refund.