Still someone has now said that we should just scrap the paper disk because the police know instantly whether or not a scanned car has one or not...
Mail.
The car tax disc which has adorned windscreens for more than 90 years could be due for the axe.All well and good, I'm (sort of) in favour of the state saving money as and where they can, though I rather doubt that they'll use any saving to refund taxation for the rest of us, the money will no doubt go to other important places such as India or Africa...
Ministers say scrapping the paper discs would cut costs and streamline services to motorists.
They are currently displayed on around 36million vehicles as proof that road tax has been paid.
However, the discs could become the latest victim of the digital revolution.
Officials say that because police can tell instantly from access to the DVLA computer whether a car has been taxed or not, there is no longer a need for proof on the windscreen.
Even tax disc reminders may soon come as emails or texts rather than paperwork through the post.
The paper element of the driving licence – which accompanies the credit card size photo-card – is also due for the chop by 2015.
No the biggest cost facing motorists today is insurance, through expensive repairs and through many uninsured drivers out there having accidents and bumping up the cost to the rest of us. Not that I don't have some sympathy for them, after all having seen the prices my stepdaughter was quoted for her insurance I'm amazed anyone would want to be paying out such amounts.
What is happening is the great liberator of the working class (easy and cheap movement) is now being priced way out of their league tying them once again to fixed areas for work (and low wages) Naturally when faced with a massive price for simply owning a car (which may not even be worth the insurance) some people decide to take a chance as the fine for not having insurance is less than the cost of the insurance itself.
So it strikes me that the insurance companies could have been made responsible for some form of disk on a car which says it's insured.
Then again, I doubt prices would come down, so perhaps it's not such a good idea after all, rip off Britain is still rip off Britain...
6 annotations:
Most of the EU works on the basis of a non-removal sticker for road tax and/or a paper display of an insurance certificate.
Surprised that Brussels isn't insisting we do it anyway? It's all very well for the police, but as you say what about the ordinary motorist who has an accident?
I don't like this at all. The disc is effectively a physical receipt and proves payment, a computer database is not to be trusted.
But why not scrap the whole thing? The tax is of course a con anyhow but could easily be collected as a mix of purchase price on the new vehicle (the emission relative element) and petrol for the road use element.
Indeed in France an insurance sticker is placed on the windscreen so is a MOT certificate. There is no such thing as a road fund licence but a charge is levied on first registration and on every subsequent change of owner, the number plates are also changed (this is the system also used in Canada at least in Québec province where I am at the moment).
I haven't got time to look at it now, but almost certain this is EU driven (excuse the pun). Looks very suspicious
http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/taxation/other_taxes/passenger_car/com_2012_756_en.pdf
Transport is an EU competence (thus the abolition of paper licenses)
Here in Cyprus they banned having anything stuck in the windscreen a few years back - which included the tax disc and MoT certificate.
Now I tax the car and bike on-line every January but a valid insurance certificate is required to do so.
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