Users of a car supermarket website back the Government's decision to scrap the paper tax disc.
A poll conducted by Motorpoint found 60.6% of site users 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. More than 1,500 people participated in the survey on the company’s website.
The tax disc was introduced in 1921 to show that motorists have paid Vehicle Excise Duty but it was revealed in the Chancellor's Autumn statement 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."
Peter Bonney - 06/01/2014 11:02
Attack of The Clones? The reduced administration from not having to distrubute tax discs, deal with the hassle of lost ones or drivers concerns when they're delayed is to be welcomed. So far, I haven't seem any speculation as to whether or not removal of having to display a tax disc is likely to lead to an increase in cloned vehicles, with the ensuing grief that they can cause. We've had cloned vehicles responsible for fuel theft, accidents and camera offences in the past. More of this would outweigh benefits of not having to deal with tax discs for my fleet.