BXProject

[Fish_Botherer]

Academic interest only for me as I haven't been running or keeping anything for the last 14/15 months. Haven't researched it very much (correction: not at all, really) but seems like yet another thing likely to thin out the population of 'interesting' old rolling-stock.

[jayw]

It's quite simple:

If you own a car it has to be one of 2 things:

A) Taxed and insured at all times

-or-

B) SORNed and off road.

The puposes of the new rules is to stop people driving "their mates" spare car on their own insurance extension when the car isn't insured in it's own right (which you used to be able to). Thiis is because you used to be able to own several cars in other names yet drive them all on one policy using your 3rd party extension. (a bit like owning a Cosworth in your girlfriends name yet driving it on your Fiat 126 insurance policy.

Also, it will mean (particularly aimed at "seasonal" vehicles -Mat-) that people will be more inclined to cash remaining tax back in as it will be cheaper than continuing to pay insurance for the last mont or 2 of the disc (which essentially would mean NO refund). Of course, the Gov makes the tax money back.

And there's all the fines to be generated from the new system (automatic fines of course)...

And a couple of other reasons...

[Philhod]

Very well put my dear sir. They were going to insist it could not be sorn if it was on your drive, but I think that one fell by the wayside.
Anyway, my BX is off road in a locked, gated compound at Dek's and, thanks to the council, I have a similar set up at mine too now, with space for 2 cars as well as my garage and separate workshop. So, coming together nicely.

[Bx Bandit]

There seems to be such a big hoo haa about this but I don't see the problem.

If you want to drive the car, you need tax and insurance.
If you want to keep it off the road for a bit, then why would you keep it taxed anyway? So you redeem your tax and make it sorn.

simplz.............

[jayw]

You gotta say, the government ain't stupid, they know exactly what they're playing at...

"Continuos MOT" was never a consideration, it would be impossible to enforce such a rule as cars will always fail for things owners have no control over. However, we all have control over whether we pay for Tax and Insurance, therefor we're culpable 100% of the time AND it's relatively easy to enforce, much the same as the current automatic Tax fines, no new equipment needed as the cameras just check the MID at the same time as DVLA (tax).

The obvious difference now being that if your car fails the MOT whilst it's still taxed you can't just "lay it up" while you wait to repair it unless you either keep it insured (pump that cash through the economy + IPT) or cash the tax in (losing 10% + any incomplete month)... Win-Win for the govt.

Tits.

[jayw]

I don't see the problem

I can SEE the problems it can cause for genuine motorists, as above etc..

But I don't HAVE a problem with it as it doesn't affect me right now.

It would have last year when i was running 2 cars on the one policy (which was perfectly legal) whilst i was fixing one or the other, after all, 3rd party insurance was there (which is all that really matters)...

It's just another way of screwing that extra few quid out of the cash-strapped motorist, not all people, just the poorest that struggle to run a car as it is, it all adds up...

[mat_the_cat]

There seems to be such a big hoo haa about this but I don't see the problem.

Me neither - generally. There have been a few instances in the past where I've temporarily swapped insurance over onto another vehicle for a week or so, in order to be able to drive it, tax it and sell it. When I did that I'd never bothered cashing in the tax on my daily driver as I knew I'd be having to buy tax again soon. But now, I haven't bought and sold any cars for years; plus the amendment charges on the policy seem to be going up making it cheaper to temporarily add an extra vehicle for a couple of weeks.

[jayw]

Provided that OWNING a car remains free and it only costs money when you want to USE it I don't have a problem.

But i can't see that lasting...

Next step: Continuous Levy on vehicle OWNERSHIP... (otherwise known as an Annual Registration Fee)...

[Bx Bandit]

The obvious difference now being that if your car fails the MOT whilst it's still taxed you can't just "lay it up" while you wait to repair it unless you either keep it insured (pump that cash through the economy + IPT) or cash the tax in (losing 10% + any incomplete month)... Win-Win for the govt.

But how differently would you do it?
As in, lets say my TD fails the MOT and I can't be arsed to fix it right now, so I'll put by valver on the road.
I'd cancel (or transfer...???) my insurance and rfe-fund the road tax. Buy new road tax for 16v.

OK, yes I'd lose the TAX refunded for the rest of this month and if I have to tax the 16v immediately then I'd have to start it in June but how does the new law make any difference?

As soon as I know any of my cars are coming off the road for more than a month then it's a no brainer.

As you say Jay: what it is doing is stopping people running a Cosworth on a fiesta insurance as you described.

Wot de fuss ye Cornish Yarg?

I do however detest the extra charge for 6 months tax (was that the 10% to meant?)

[jayw]

I do however detest the extra charge for 6 months tax (was that the 10% to meant?)

That's the 10% premium for ONLY buying 6 months, you ALSO get charged 10% of the net refund when you cash a disc back in.

The whole thing is not aimed at road safety or law enforcement because it would do neither to those that wouldn't bother paying anyway. The only impact it will have will be to cost the poorest motorists money, albeit only a few quid at a time but it soon adds up. If the only time you notice a new rule is when it costs you money it can only be a rip-off... we certainly GAIN nothing from it.

Since the advent of ANPR (fixed & mobile) we've had the ability to identify uninsured motors, this legislation just allows them to automatically send fines out... There's a deterrent "Three weeks ago you let your insurance slip" useful, very useful...

[Bx Bandit]

That's the 10% premium for ONLY buying 6 months, you ALSO get charged 10% of the net refund when you cash a disc back in.

10% charge for cashing it in? Shit me I didn't know that!

Uninsured drivers cost us (insured drivers) £so many million per year, apparently adding approx £30 onto our premiums.

Yes, of coursed we'll see a £30 reduction in our premiums

[jayw]

Yes, of coursed we'll see a £30 reduction in our premiums

[Philhod]

Haven't you lot learned yet? It's always heads they win, tails you lose.

[jayw]

heads they win, tails you lose.

I've been using that one on the kids for years, they still haven't worked it out

[Fish_Botherer]

Thanks - not surprised by usual 'win-win' for HMG, as Jay puts it. Won't exactly harm the insurers either (extra cross-sell), and explains why the insurers I last contacted when I considered (and rejected) the offer of a freebie are sending me emails .

[Philhod]

and rejected) the offer of a freebie

I never turn down freebies

[jayw]

I never turn down freebies

Said the vicar...