The Government’s plan to scrap tax discs later this year has received overwhelming support from motorists according to Motorpoint.
A new web-based poll by the UK’s leading car supermarket found 60.6% of drivers backed the decision by the Chancellor George Osborne to axe the tax disc after more than 90 years in favour of an online only system. Over 1,500 people participated in the survey on the company’s website – www.motorpoint.co.uk.
The tax disc was introduced in 1921 to show that motorists have paid Vehicle Excise Duty but it was revealed in the Autumn Budget that it is no longer needed with the DVLA and the Police now relying on an electronic register. Under the new online system people will also, for the first time, be able to pay their road tax by monthly direct debit to help spread the cost. Motorists without internet access will still be able to tax their cars by telephone or in person at their local post office.
Mark Carpenter, Managing Director of Motorpoint, said: “The tax disc is part of the fabric of motoring and I am sure it will take some getting used to not having it on show in our windscreens. However, with the widespread use of real-time online systems by the Police and other agencies to combat avoidance, the role of the tax disc has become largely symbolic and based on the results of our poll it doesn’t seem that too many drivers will be that sad to see it disappear.”
We at Car Articles consider it to be an inevitable move. Having a paper disc you have to pay for rather than simply paying online or over the phone seems to be a rather outdated concept. I’d suggest keeping your final one for posterity however…
Leave a Reply