My tax disc runs out at the end of this month, as does my insurance. My insurance renewal was (surprisingly) competitive so all I have to do is leave it for the insurance company to renew it automatically, using the card details they have on file.

Problem #1: The 'redacted' card details the insurance company listed in the renewal letter do not match my card. So I ring them up and ask them to change it. No problem, done.

Problem #2: I try to renew my tax disc online. It says they don't have a record of me having insurance for the period of the tax disc.

I call the insurance company. They say they won't actually process the renewal until the end of the month. They say I can get a new tax disc from a Post Office using the cover note included with the renewal letter.

I then receive a new debit card from my bank. Lo and behold, it has the number that my insurance company originally listed in the renewal letter. I have to call the insurance company and give them the new card details again.

I go to the Post Office web site and search for local branches which do tax discs. Joy! The one round the corner from work does. I go there on my way in to work this morning. No joy - it turns out they don't do tax discs after all.

Annoyance #1: The insurance company found out about my new card details a good week before I received the card myself. It looks like the bank was trying to be helpful by tell the insurance company about my new card details, but it ended up causing confusion. They should have sent the card to me earlier.

Annoyance #2: The Post Office web site lies about which branches do tax discs.

Annoyance #3: If my insurance and my tax disc expire on the same day, I can't get a new tax disc online until after the old one has actually expired. But if I do it face to face in a Post Office (assuming I can find one which does actually do tax discs) that's apparently OK. That makes no sense.

The whole experience has left me profoundly depressed at the inability of people to design systems which work together properly, or which make any kind of sense, or which even manage to contain accurate information.

I have just renewed the tax on my daughters car.

The insurance runs out in 3 weeks time.

The car will not be insured for the whole time the tax disc I applied for is valid but I had no such problems.

I am expecting the new disc to drop through the letterbox any day now

Argh ejstubbs... I feel your pain. My tax and insurance have always been a month out. So come tax renewal time there is always a month of insurance left and the online application is a doddle as everything checks out thankfully.

Good luck though.

The car will not be insured for the whole time the tax disc I applied for is valid but I had no such problems.

Your situation is not the same as mine. You don't have to have insurance for the whole period of the tax disc - that would be daft eg of your tax disc and insurance were six months out of sync - but you do need to have it for the date the tax disc starts.

My policy runs out on 31st October. Until my insurers renew it for me, the DVLA online system says I don't have insurance from 1st November. I know, I've tried twice. For reasons best known to themselves, the insurers won't actually renew my insurance until the last possible minute. However, they claim that the paperwork in the renewal letter is sufficient for a Post Office to issue a tax disc before the renewal actually happens. I haven't been able to test this assertion because the Post Office I was directed to turned out not to issue tax discs.

Three systems, two of which don't work together properly and one of which contains incorrect information! What's a humble punter supposed to do?

I appreciate your predicament but may have the solution.

Wait until 1st nov to tax the car.

The insurance should take effect from 00.01hrs on the 1st so the car will be insured.

This should allow the DVLA database to accept the vehicle is insured.

If you tax the car on 1st it will not register on any ANPR as not taxed because, although you will not be displaying the new tax, it will have been paid for.

For all those that are going to point out that the offence is "failing to display" while technically correct, the online process allows 5 working days from buying to displaying the new disc.

But just to be sure and avoid any conflict with actual real life members of the authorities I suggest you print out the receipt and carry it in the car until you get the new disc.

Sorted?

For all those that are going to point out that the offence is "failing to display" while technically correct, the online process allows 5 working days from buying to displaying the new disc.

Erm they way I saw the 5 day thing (which you have to agree to when you buy the disc online) is that you HAVE to order your disc at least five days before it expires. The onus is on you to order the disc in time. I don't think it implies that you can order it on the day it expires and THEN wait five days... or indeed claim five days' grace either. But then that is just how I see it.

Nothing to do with Yeti's

Moved to general car chat

My tax disc runs out at the end of this month, as does my insurance. My insurance renewal was (surprisingly) competitive so all I have to do is leave it for the insurance company to renew it automatically, using the card details they have on file.

Problem #1: The 'redacted' card details the insurance company listed in the renewal letter do not match my card. So I ring them up and ask them to change it. No problem, done.

Annoyance #1: The insurance company found out about my new card details a good week before I received the card myself. It looks like the bank was trying to be helpful by tell the insurance company about my new card details, but it ended up causing confusion. They should have sent the card to me earlier.

This is the fault of your bank, and not of either your insurance company or the DVLA.

Erm they way I saw the 5 day thing (which you have to agree to when you buy the disc online) is that you HAVE to order your disc at least five days before it expires. The onus is on you to order the disc in time. I don't think it implies that you can order it on the day it expires and THEN wait five days... or indeed claim five days' grace either. But then that is just how I see it.

You're reading it wrong then; the period of taxation is continuous as long as your payment is taken by 23:59 on the last day of the relevant month, and the reminder is worded such that you may drive the vehicle on the old disc in this circumstance.

You're reading it wrong then; the period of taxation is continuous as long as your payment is taken by 23:59 on the last day of the relevant month, and the reminder is worded such that you may drive the vehicle on the old disc in this circumstance.

Ejstubbs: it then seems CFB found you a solution! Ignore my interpretations!

What i do, is if i know there is a clash of dates, i buy a 6months tax, i know it costs a little more, but it does mean that you don't have a problem come renewal.

Is all that online hassle really worth not going to a post office and getting your road tax disc.??

I can only suggest buy one six-month road tax disc, when road tax is due, then in six months time buy a twelve month road tax disc.

The following year the insurance will be due and paid six months apart of the twelve month road tax.

Job done. (Simples)

Is all that online hassle really worth not going to a post office and getting your road tax disc.??

I can only suggest buy one six-month road tax disc, when road tax is due, then in six months time buy a twelve month road tax disc.

The following year the insurance will be due and paid six months apart of the twelve month road tax.

Job done. (Simples)

...and when it comes to it, make sure the MOT is done out of sync too - saves soooo much hassle!

The car will not be insured for the whole time the tax disc I applied for is valid

You may fall foul of the new continuous insurance requirement. If a car is taxed and not insured the registered keeper will get a fine, to avoid the fine the vehicle must be SORNd.

Is all that online hassle really worth not going to a post office and getting your road tax disc.??

I've bought my road tax on line for years now. Never had any hassle and it means I don't even have to dig out insurance docs etc.

My insurance and tax don't run out at the same time though as I changed my existing insurance when I bought the car.

Surely for them to coincide so closely to be a problem you'd have to have bought (and taxed) your car and taken out insurance on the 1st of the month?

If you buy/tax your car on any other day of the month the tax will run out before the insurance?

TBH I think the system works quite well. It requires you to have insurance in place and it relies on what the insurance companies provide for that.

It sounds to me as though the OP's insurers are the problem. I haven't been issued a cover note for many years!

Edited 29 October, 201114 yr by juan27