Tax Exemption - Quick Question

[LucyC]

I went to look at a 1959 saloon this morning. I thought this would have been tax exempt, but my partner reckons this only applies to cars that were registered for exemption when it came out, rather than all old cars per se. Also, there was an old 2001 or 2002 tax disc on the car, so I reckon he might be right. I looked up dvla's website and could find no mention of tax exemption. Can anyone put me right on this? This car would be our Sunday afternoon runaround, and if it ain't exempt it's no good to us!!

Thank you.

[Peetee]

A road tax disc has to be issued for every car. The payment for each varies on the classification of that car. in the case of Minors they should all be exempt of a charge because they were produced before the date by which the government has declared exemption. (I believe it is 1972). These cars still have to display a disc however and these are obtained in the usual way providing the vehicle registration document carries it's actual or approximate date of manufacture.

[Gareth]

If, for some strange reason, the owner still pays the £££, then the information on the V5 probably needs changing.

The taxation class for vehicles built on or before 31/12/1972 should read Historic Vehicle.

You take everything you normally take to the post office to get your disc, but no cheque book - what could be better

[rayofleamington]

You take everything you normally take to the post office to get your disc, but no cheque book - what could be better

Yes and no -
If the V5 shows 'historic vehicle' in the tax class then you are fine.
If the tax class was not changed on the V5 yet, then you need to get the car roadworthy (valid MOT and insurance) then pay a visit to a 'DVLA local office' and they will update your V5 with the correct tax group and issue a tax disk (FREE! )
If you have a 100 mile round trip to your 'local' office and don't want to do that (or if you are very patient and don't mind leaving you car off the road for no good reason) then you can change the V5 and get the tax disk by post but you still need the MOT and insurance.
So either way it's simple.

Many V5 documents do not show the correct tax group as the name has changed a few times. in these cases the owner can get a new (free) tax disk when they use the tax reminder form.
However if the tax lapses or the car is sold then there is little alternative than to jump the red tape hurdles and get the V5 updated.

[Gareth]

That was what I was getting at, Ray...

[rayofleamington]

That was what I was getting at, Ray...

Having tried to take my stuff to the post office to get it done (failing badly) when Riley was put back on the road, it's worth knowing:
1) when you do and when you can't do it at the post office. ;-)
2) what is needed, and who you deal with to update the V5.

Having once tried (and failed) to get a V5 corrected whilst MOT work was underway I wouldn't want anyone else to only have half the story

[Gareth]

Ah... no, sorry, I didn't mean that you could change the V5 at the post-office. They're far too busy pretending to be a bank for useful things like that.

I see now how that could be construed op: but I stand by what I said: getting a tax disc (assuming the v5 says Historic Vehicle) is no different to getting a normal disc, only a helluva lot cheaper. I know people who think you have to go to the VLO for that, which isn't the case...

Anyhow, sorry if I wasn't clear. ;)

[LucyC]

Thanks for the info. I phoned the dvla this morning, went through a squillion automated options before actually getting through to a person, but she confirmed that even if the car isn't registered exempt I could do this myself. Bit confusing though isn't it, what you need to send and where.

Thanks again guys.

Lucy

[rayofleamington]

Bit confusing though isn't it, what you need to send and where.

Yes! They don't make it easy for you.
Not sure which area you live, but on the DVLA website you can find out where your nearest 'DVLA local office' is.