Car tax Up For Renewal

Denisejcc · 03-03-2012 1:36pm #1

Hi,

Quick question and apologies if this has been asked before but I searched and couldnt find the answer on here.

My car tax expired on 29/02/2012, can I renew this at any stage during the month of March without any consequences?

Was stopped at a checkpoint for tax and insurance and the Garda just waved me on and didnt ask if I had sent off for the renewal.

Just checking as it would suit me better to renew the tax towards the end of March rather than now.

thanks
D

Buffman · 03-03-2012 1:44pm

Denisejcc wrote: »

My car tax expired on 29/02/2012, can I renew this at any stage during the month of March without any consequences?

Yes, you can renew, tax is monthly so there is no difference.

Jimdagym · 03-03-2012 1:48pm

Buffman wrote: »

Yes, you can renew, tax is monthly so there is no difference.

^^bad advice. Op, you are normally given a months grace, but your car should be taxed. I think the months grace is unofficial, but I can't remember the actual timeframe. It's only 3/4 days though AFAIR.

Buffman · 03-03-2012 2:00pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

^^bad advice. Op, you are normally given a months grace, but your car should be taxed. I think the months grace is unofficial, but I can't remember the actual timeframe. It's only 3/4 days though AFAIR.

Ok, it's now the 3rd of March, the OP's question was can she renew the tax at any time during the month of March without any consequenses. The answer to that question is yes. She would pay the same tax.

It's commonly 1 months grace. The car can be siezed by Gardai if tax is 2 months out. But in theory the OP could be fined right now for non-display.

Guy:Incognito · 03-03-2012 2:04pm

Buffman wrote: »

It's commonly 1 months grace. The car can be siezed by Gardai if tax is 2 months out. But in theory the OP could be fined right now for non-display.

No, she can be fined for not having tax too. The non display is a seperate thing that just covers the actual paper disc being in the window.

Generally you wont be done for tax only just being out but theres no grace period so you can be.

bazz26 · 03-03-2012 2:05pm

OP, while I understand it might suit you to renew it at the end of March, there is actually nothing to be gained from a motor tax perspective. If you renew it on 29th of March it will still be taxed from the month of March so it is the same thing as renewing it today, ie you still pay for March.

Also while you may not get hassel from a check point if you park it in a public place or a metered place you could still be fined for not display of a valid tax disc. Just something to be aware of.

slimjimmc · 03-03-2012 2:12pm

There is no month's grace in law.

You have up until the end of the month to renew Motor Tax without incurring arrears for the missed months but that does not permit you to use the car in the meantime.

You are not legally permitted to use a vehicle on a public road without current motor tax, under any circumstances. That includes parking on the side of the road.
If you can't pay your tax until sometime after expiry you are legally required to remove it from a public road until such time you pay the tax and display the tax disc.

If your car is found in driving or parked in a public road then you could be fined.
However, in the real world a Garda would tend to use his discretion (if your tax is only recently out) and ask you to get it sorted and produce a tax disc within 10 days. A Traffic Warden wouldn't normally see an un-taxed empty parked car and would just issue a fine.

cml387 · 03-03-2012 2:16pm

Within this month you can tax it using the PIN you should have received printed on the notification.

Of course the OP could be waiting until she gets paid again;)

Denisejcc · 03-03-2012 2:28pm

Thanks for all the replies. I am not trying to get out of paying the tax at all but it just said on the renewal letter to renew during the month of March. I will get paid on the 16th so would suit me to renew on that date online but just want to make sure I am not doing anything that is technically illegal!

:D

dr.fuzzenstein · 03-03-2012 2:38pm

You can renew during March, no problem.
I do it all the time, I can only renew when I have the money and there's a looong queue of bills to be paid.
Yes theoretically you could be fined for having tax just out, but in reality it's never been a problem for me.
As for "Your car will be seized by demons and you will burn in hell the second your tax is out!!!", relax man, it's not a totalitarian state, take the pills and chill.
Chances of a ticket are slim to none, that doesn't mean it's not going to happen, but don't lose sleep over it.
It's technically illegal in the same way as straying above the speedlimit in the middle of nowhere with no Cash Van around.
About as dramatic as a bicycle falling over somewhere in China.

Denisejcc · 03-03-2012 2:52pm

Ha ha thanks Dr Fuzzenstein!

I'll take my chances and wait until the 16th March, afterall their renewal letter states to renew during the month of March

Thanks everyone

sonyvision · 03-03-2012 3:48pm

ya all seem to know about motor tax i got a question for ya if you can help

my car is taxed till the end of june this year, but mid june the car will be parked on private property in a garage and will not be moved as the insurance expiries in july. Im travelling to america in june and wont be returning till september, im not planning on driving till around mid October untill i have the funds for insurance.

will i need to tax my car even tho it wont be on a public road ??
or can i get the gardia to sign the form saying the cars not been used on a public road ??

georgefalls · 03-03-2012 4:09pm

If you read your "MOTOR TAX RENEWAL FORM"
Section 1:
(iii) The Tax disc is to commence on the first day of MARCH 2012
(iv) Application is made prior to or during MARCH 2012

That says to me, its legal to have your old disc displayed right up to the last day of March.
Open to correction on that one though..??

Jimdagym · 03-03-2012 4:11pm

sonyvision wrote: »

ya all seem to know about motor tax i got a question for ya if you can help

my car is taxed till the end of june this year, but mid june the car will be parked on private property in a garage and will not be moved as the insurance expiries in july. Im travelling to america in june and wont be returning till september, im not planning on driving till around mid October untill i have the funds for insurance.

will i need to tax my car even tho it wont be on a public road ??
or can i get the gardia to sign the form saying the cars not been used on a public road ??

The garda signs that he witnessed your declaration, not that it was off the road.
You can certainly still have it signed off the road, just be aware that whatever stage you get it back on, you are liable for that full month, so if you are doing it on the 28th, wait a couple of days.

sonyvision · 03-03-2012 4:13pm

Jimdagym wrote: »

The garda signs that he witnessed your declaration, not that it was off the road.
You can certainly still have it signed off the road, just be aware that whatever stage you get it back on, you are liable for that full month, so if you are doing it on the 28th, wait a couple of days.

yeah i understand that was the way the law stood, but i was told it changed in january and it cant be done, or you have to have it signed before you go ?

Jimdagym · 03-03-2012 4:15pm

sonyvision wrote: »

yeah i understand that was the way the law stood, but i was told it changed in january and it cant be done, or you have to have it signed before you go ?

No, not yet. I done it the middle of february for a car that was off since November. No hassle at all.

sonyvision · 03-03-2012 4:16pm

sound for that mate thought i was getting stung for 4-5 months tax on a car that i wont even be here to drive it and it wont even have insurance on it

Denisejcc · 03-03-2012 6:53pm

georgefalls wrote: »

If you read your "MOTOR TAX RENEWAL FORM"
Section 1:
(iii) The Tax disc is to commence on the first day of MARCH 2012
(iv) Application is made prior to or during MARCH 2012

That says to me, its legal to have your old disc displayed right up to the last day of March.
Open to correction on that one though..??

Thats my reading of it too.. I'll let you know if I get done before I renew!!:D:D

mathepac · 03-03-2012 7:26pm

georgefalls wrote: »

If you read your "MOTOR TAX RENEWAL FORM"
Section 1:
(iii) The Tax disc is to commence on the first day of MARCH 2012
(iv) Application is made prior to or during MARCH 2012

That says to me, its legal to have your old disc displayed right up to the last day of March.
Open to correction on that one though..??

Happy to oblige.

What you have quoted are the some of the conditions relating to the use of the green renewal form you get in the post from Shannon.

It means you can use that form (rather than the renewal forms in your local authority tax office) to tax your car because after the end of March arrears become due.

It has nothing got to do with driving your car untaxed on the public road.

Car tax Up For Renewal

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