Do tax discs have to be displayed?

[thor]

My holder has disintegrated. Do I have to buy a new one or can I just keep the disc under the seat? I remember a few people here mentioned doing that.

[Ceri JC]

People do that because it means that if an officer pulls them, they can show it to them. That's not to say it's legal and outside of London, few places would accept the excuse that it's to prevent theft (although of course, you may encounter the odd sympathetic soul).

Legally, you're suppose to display it on your bike in front of the engine, ideally on the left hand side. This can pose a bit of a problem on full faired bikes, so there's some leniency in where you put it (so to speak :) ). I've certainly never heard of anyone being done for having on their pillion pegs/swingarm, rathe than front forks, for example.

[rictus01]

legally speaking the offence is "failure to display" so yes you should.

However, I've had a couple stolen over the years and as long as you don't get ar*ey with the old bill and have it with you then you're unlikely to get done for it.

also another way is to do a good copy for display and print "original with rider" across it.

Cheers Mark.

[Mr Toad]

I've got a holder you can have - blue/carbon fibre motrax, off my old bike

[thor]

Cheers all for being so helpful as ever.

So where can I get a cheap holder then? :)

[Cloggsy]

Do tax discs have to be displayed?

Legally, yes :!: However....

[Anonymous]

Doh! (me, not you :lol: )

[Anonymous]

DVLA have threatened to immobilise bikes not displaying. Cant rememebr where I got this info from, but think posted it once before.

Thing is folks use the oxford allen key type holders which will too much of a pain for a casual thief to open (typically), but then attach them with a normal screw or bolt, easy to remove. I reckon plenty can be done to make it more awkward and then you can display. For example mines cable tied to the frame behind a panal which would have to be removed to cut the ties. Pain once a year, but once a year.

Anyway, watch this space for mine to be nicked...... :wink: :lol:

[lynw]

Cheers all for being so helpful as ever.

So where can I get a cheap holder then? :)

See post above yours. :wink: :lol:

[Steve_God]

Friend of mine (On a R6) never has his on display - has had it brought up on odd occasionals and he tells the police that he keeps it at home so it doesn't get nicked off his bike.
They've all agreed with him !

End of the day - worst they can do is issue a producer to take it down to the station.

[Kate]

Cheers all for being so helpful as ever.

So where can I get a cheap holder then? :)
Want my old one? I think its knocking around in the spare room maybe. If I find it, its yours.

[embee]

If you have a nice Oxford allen bolt type jobbie, the scum will simply break it off. They're only interested in the disc, couldn't care about the holder.

There was a discussion about position of disc display on another site, and a friendly plod did some checking and came back with chapter and verse. Long reply but this clears it all up I hope :roll:

Re: Tax Disc I work for Sussex Police and I have found the definitive answer. Im sorry but, it is a very long post. The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002 create the framework for vehicle licences. Regulation 6 deals with the exhibition of vehicle and nil licences, whilst Regulation 7 prohibits the exhibition of anything resembling a vehicle, trade or nil licence. 6(1) When a vehicle licence or nil licence (a free vehicle licence for vehicles which are exempt) has been delivered to the Secretary of State with an application for a replacement licence, no licence need be fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle to which the licence relates until the replacement licence is obtained. 6(2) Except where paragraph 6(1) applies, the manner in which any vehicle licence or nil licence in force for a vehicle is to be fixed to and exhibited on the vehicle in accordance with the provisions of section 33(1) or (1A) of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, when it is used or kept on a public road, is that specified in the following provisions of this regulation. Weatherproof 6(3) Each such licence shall be fixed to the vehicle in a holder sufficient to protect the licence from the weather to which it would otherwise be exposed. Location 6(4) The licence shall be exhibited on the vehicle - (a) in the case of an invalid vehicle, motor tricycle or bicycle, other than in a case specified in sub-paragraph (b) or (c) of this paragraph, on the near side of the vehicle; (b) in the case of a motor bicycle drawing a side-car or to which a side-car is attached, on the near side of the handlebars of the bicycle or on the near side of the side-car; (c) in the case of any vehicle fitted with a glass windscreen in front of the driver extending across the vehicle to its near side, on or adjacent to the near side of the windscreen; (d) in the case of any other vehicle - (i) if the vehicle is fitted with a driver's cab containing a near side window, on that window; or (ii) on the near side of the vehicle in front of the driver's seat and not less than 760 mm and not more than 1.8 metres above the surface of the road. Visibility 6(5) In each case referred to in paragraph (4), the licence shall be so exhibited that all the particulars on the licence are clearly visible in daylight from the near side of the road. Exhibit fake licence 7. No person shall exhibit on a vehicle which is kept or used on a public road anything - (a) which is intended to be, or (b) which could reasonably be, mistaken for a vehicle licence, a nil licence or a trade licence which is for the time being in force for, or in respect of, the vehicle. The offence of actually failing to display a vehicle licence (as opposed to displaying it in the wrong place or displaying a fake) is to be found in section 33 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act of 1994. Im sorry but, I did tell you that it was a long one.

Basically on a 2-wheeler, anywhere on the nearside clearly visible will do.

[TEL]

Dont see why we should display anymore, just renewed mine online and being its all connected ( insurance, mot and tax )via a computer, just through reading your number plate :!:

[Cronos]

Dont see why we should display anymore, just renewed mine online and being its all connected ( insurance, mot and tax )via a computer, just through reading your number plate :!:

Correct. They will fine you for not displaying a disc even though they know that your vehicle is taxed. :x

Another case of going after the easy targets. :x :roll: