[Mark07]

Earlier, I mentioned that 1st October was birthday of Ford's Model T. Well it turns out this date is also the anniversary of another motoring staple - many drivers will never have used one.

Ten years ago on 1st October 2014, the requirement to display the humble tax disc was officially ended in Britain. Those traditionalists who continued on regardless had the final tax discs expire a year later.

What colour was your first tax disc?
How much did you pay for it?

[Drivingforfun]

Oh, I remember this, I learnt to drive after that though!

My only real issue was about the fact that tax under the new system doesn't follow the vehicle and DVLA only refund any full months to the pervious owner

I wonder how much they make from this? It'd be quite easy to work out a rough estimate if there was any data for used vehicle transactions which you could multiply by a rough average, say half a month and adjust a bit for other factors

[Mark07]

Tax discs are one of those things that remind me of being a kid. My mum would go to the post office and buy one... I don't think I've even bought a stamp from a post office.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

Oh, I remember this, I learnt to drive after that though!

My only real issue was about the fact that tax under the new system doesn't follow the vehicle and DVLA only refund any full months to the pervious owner

I wonder how much they make from this? It'd be quite easy to work out a rough estimate if there was any data for used vehicle transactions which you could multiply by a rough average, say half a month and adjust a bit for other factors

There are about 6 million used car sales p.a. If the average "loss" is (say) a fiver, that gives "them" £30 million!

However, don't forget that "they" in this case is the Treasury. If "they" didn't get money that way, they'd have to get it somewhere else - income tax, VAT, etc.

[Drivingforfun]

@Beelzebub that's a very fair point, I've heard it applied to emotive but relatively low value taxes like inheritance tax or even the old tampon VAT...

I suppose we just hope they're replaced with taxes that affect ourselves less? On a personal level we obviously try to reduce our tax bill, often paying a lot of money for advice...ultimately we're just shifting the burden onto someone else

[Drivingforfun]

I meant to add.....

Not a tax disc but my Mum does still have her paper drivers license... she enjoys having to show it because it has scribble all over it where apparently I got hold of it as a toddler and took a pen to it 😂

She's not looking forward to having to swap it. Does anyone know if you get to keep your old one if you want to, as with the passport, or do you have to give it up?

[Rolebama]

I honestly couldn't find my paper licence when I had to renew at 70, so just reported it as lost. No problem.

As to tax disc, my first one was £10 on my first car, an Austin Mini 7 van. I think it was blue. Drank petrol like no tomorrow, and although quite quick, ran out of steam at
around 65mph.

I do remember seeing a lot of different colour beer bottle labels being displayed in windscreens in my younger days, my neighbour had a whole selection of the different colours.

[olduser]

I had a big move recently, and I found my old booklet driving licence!

I remember going to Southern Ireland to commission a glass fibre factory, in the days of tax disks.
I flew into Dublin, picked up a hire car at the airport, and set off for Clonmel.
Out in the countryside going around a bend a Garda (Irish cop) was in the road, a bit concerting his gun was in plain view, in it's holster but...

Garda, "Top o the morning sir"
Me, thinking it's afternoon but not a time to be difficult, "Good afternoon" (should it be constable, sargent or sir?) settle for "sir" (should I say nice gun I can't stop myself looking at it!)
Garda, "It'll be yourself over from England then."
Me, thinking, Oh god is he IRA in drag? "Yes just flown into Dublin"
Garda, "It'll be the tax disc that's not showing sir"
Me, look at screen, he' right, OK look in car, glove box, paperwork, nothing.
Garda, "That's a hire car sir, I know em all, it's illegal here to have the disk not showing, get on your way, it'll be fixed by myself"
Me, "What if I get stopped again?"
Garda, " You'll not be after having any more trouble sir after myself has fixed it"
He was right, the Garda in Clonmel looked but with no comment, I had that car for two weeks.

When I returned, a different hire car, no tax, I complain, I am told not to worry, it's all fixed with the Garda???