Direct debit is definitely not necessary for one off payments. Looks like you have identified the issue though.

u have 2 options now when taxing a car if you pay via direct debit regardless of it being one off or monthly the price is lower then paying by cash or any other payment type I will put up a picture for you to have a better understanding

Information provided by https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/Default.aspx

so no you have done nothing wrong just some new schemes dvla are using

Information provided by https://www.vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/Default.aspx

so no you have done nothing wrong just some new schemes dvla are using

My point is that one off payment by visa or credit card is still an option. I have done this twice since October without setting any kind of direct debit.

Better still a Debit Card & no charge of £2.50 being taken.

My point is that one off payment by visa or credit card is still an option. I have done this twice since October without setting any kind of direct debit.

 

+1  You can set up a 12 month direct debit if you want, but we just put 12 months tax on one of the Yetis as a one off payment.

It seems that it is still possible to make a single payment without setting up a DD.

 

See point #13 here...

 

http://www.rac.co.uk/pdfs/advice/direct-debit-faqs.pdf

 

I can only go on personal experience but I missed this normal option. I get the impression the DVLA are preferring people to go down the route of a DD and have set up their new web page to encourage this. I certainly missed the ability to pay normally but it must be there somewhere.

 

I'll just cancel the DD after they take the money and pay more attention next time!

I know within the next 12 months I will put my car up for sale that is why I am paying monthly installments to save the headache of a refund when I sell the car all I have to do is go on my online banking and cancel the direct debit and that's the end of that