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Buying a car without tax
SierraL_killer - 25/9/06 at 01:01 PM

Hi all
Im going to look at a car tonight but it has no tax. Can i legally drive it home (5miles away) without tax provided i have insurance and mot?


Dont fancy having my car crushed 10mins after buying it!

Humbug - 25/9/06 at 01:07 PM

Don't think so - if you own it, you are responsible for it having tax, MOT and insurance on the road unless going to/from an arranged MOT test

JamJah - 25/9/06 at 01:26 PM

Most coppers will let you off as long as you can prove you have just bought the car and have no way of getting it taxed (they will probably issue a request for documents within 7 days as per the old days!). ie if you buy it at 7pm then the post office will be shut. however if it is at 4pm then you have to stop at the closest one.

However it is up to them.

Kissy - 25/9/06 at 01:57 PM

Why risk it?
Your insurance will be invalidated.

nick205 - 25/9/06 at 02:11 PM

If you decide to buy it, then ask the seller to drive it round to yours for you and give him a lft back in another car (assuming you have accees to one). If he's keen to sell it he probably won't object

rpsmith - 25/9/06 at 03:24 PM

Kissy, your insurance won't be invalidaded, it takes a lot to invalidate your insurance and not having road tax isn't one of them

As said before IF you do get stopped most coppers wopuld be fine if you have just bought it....... and that is a very big IF

phoenix70 - 25/9/06 at 03:34 PM

I remember asking the same question at my local police station, and the official line is no you can't, if you get stopped (and the copper is having a bad day) you can definately be done for this. Long and short of it, is you take your chances. You could tow it, then it doesn't need to be taxed.

[Edited on 25/9/06 by phoenix70]

pdw709 - 25/9/06 at 03:37 PM

I've been buying cars at my local aution for years (4 cars and counting)....Driving home is just something you have to take a risk with!

Phil

UncleFista - 25/9/06 at 03:58 PM

You could always book an MOT at a garage in between your house and where the car is, you don't need to turn up, but if you do get a pull, you have the MOT as a excuse to be driving with no tax.

[Edited on 25/9/06 by UncleFista]

jollygreengiant - 25/9/06 at 04:06 PM

The only legal way of doing it is with a set of TRADE plates.

MikeRJ - 25/9/06 at 05:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Kissy
Why risk it?
Your insurance will be invalidated.


As said, this is not the case. Even having no MOT will not invalidate your insurance, at least not to third party liabilites.