Motorists are no longer required to have their insurance documents inspected before receiving a tax disc. Why? Because this occasional check has been replaced by the Continuous Enforcement Scheme. This enables the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency to check for compliance regularly by cross referencing the Registered Keeper Database with the Motor Insurance Database. If a car is uninsured its keeper receives a reminder in the post. This is the chance to comply without penalty. However, if no action is taken the offender receives a one hundred pound fixed penalty notice. This, in turn, can be followed by clamping, impounding and/or prosecution. Court penalties include points on the licence, a fine and disqualification. Furthermore, the Continuous Enforcement Scheme minimises the benefit of a popular scam. This requires the motorist to purchase motor insurance so that he/she receives official documents through the post/online. The crook then cancels the policy, claims a refund and retains the paperwork that – until now – could be used to tax a vehicle. So, whereas this documentation still has merit it is of far less value to those with unscrupulous intentions.

Government Cuts Red Tape For Motorists

The Continuous Enforcement Scheme is part of a package to remove red tape. Let us consider the other elements. Motorists that own vehicles that are not in use must – as has been the case for years – complete a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). However, this is now a one-off rather than an annual process. Vehicles simply remain legally off the road until taxed, sold or scrapped. Furthermore, the paper tax disc for windscreens will be consigned to history from October 2014. But this will not be the end of Vehicle Excise Duty - so motorists will continue to pay to keep cars on the road. This initiative will come into effect for two reasons. Firstly, the paper disc is simply a receipt that can be checked by the police to ensure vehicles are taxed. But this paper trail is superfluous as vehicles are monitored by a camera system that determines – via registration plates – whether the tax has been paid. The Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency complements such checks via a monthly scan of its database then sends fines to non-compliers. Furthermore, the government has confirmed that drivers will soon be able to pay road tax by direct debit which should make life simpler for millions of people.

Stephen Turvil By Stephen Turvil
Mon, 13 Jan 2014 - See more at: http://www.motoring.co.uk/car-news/insuran...3hLk8.dpuf

this helps the convenience of applying for your tax disc online, cant remember the last time i queued in a post office..

Always do mine on line  2020 Porsche Panamera Turbo Hybrid (V FAST)
2017 Range Rover Autobiography 5.0 V8
2018 JCW Mini Cooper
2018 Skoda VRS

I just tell domestic management and all is done so it should make life easier for her

Just had my reminder today, going to be the last paper disk I own for the car, bit sad really...

Good idea in principle.....alas I do feel for the Post Offices,especially the little one that rely on road tax buyers to supplement there already mediocre incomes.  If you have nothing nice to say,say nothing at all.

I think this has a couple of flaws..... First - if someone dumps a car outside your house or place of work, in the past a missing tax disc is a very good first indication as to whether that car has been dumped or what etc.
Second - if you are going to buy a car from someone - if it has the disc in the screen, you can see instantly how much rent you have left if you were to buy. Without this the seller could lie about the remaining tax. I'm guessing we will be able to see on line how much is left but that is not always convienient.

just a thought

Oh - and if this is supposed to be a cost saving thing - I very much doubt if they pass the saving on to the motorist!!!!

you can check to see how much car tax is left on a car freely here,

http://www.freecarcheck.org/

^ as ever......dont work for any Northern Ireland regs

You can also check on the DVLA website https://www.taxdisc.direct.gov.uk/EvlPorta...ution=e1s1

I went to the local post office last month to tax my wife's car.. They handed my documents back and said they no longer needed to check them, just scan the reminder.... Very handy... But I had spent 30 mins tracking down her MOT cert!!! Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI

Sorry for anyone who is gonna loose a job in the DVLNI when it merges with the DVLA.....but in unless ur a complete tit, even u will know it will make life so much easier when it comes to sorting out car matters.

so when they get rid of the paper disc in october 2014 will the dvla also stop the ridicules surcharge you have to pay if you only get 6 months tax rather than 12 months..

my tax renewal is due and its £269.50 for 6 months and £490 for 12, so if i pay every 6 months i pay an extra £49 ...does it cost that much to send out 2 tax discs instead of 1..

btw , i'm not complaining about the actual cost, i knew how much it would be when i brought my FF..

It's a shame for all of the companies making tax disc holders. I'm sure some small businesses will go bust over this.

Do the cop cars with ANPR know if you have road tax just now? Previously..
Vogue SE TD6
Defender 90 2.4
Defender 110 TD5
Vogue 3.5 EFI