Do you need a valid UK Tax Disc on your car when driving a UK vehicle on the continent?

Answer 1

If the car is registered in the UK it needs a UK tax disc.
The alternative is to register the car in the country you are visiting, and tax and insure it there.

There are two issues here - one is that the UK now operates "continuous licencing", so unless you declare SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notice) your car must be taxed continuously no matter where it is.
The second is that most countries only allow foreign cars that are legal in their country of registration on their roads.
Therefore by using an un-taxed UK-registered car abroad you would be breaking the law in both countries.

Also bear in mind that your insurance may not be valid if your car is not road-legal (which includes being taxed).

Answer 2

Tricky question.

But if it's a UK-registered vehicle, it must now either have a valid tax disc OR a SORN declaration in force.

If a SORN (Statutory Off Road Notice) is in force, it is deemed to be not, for the duration of that notice, a vehicle and therefore the registration mark is not that of a current vehicle so car concerned cannot properly be used anywhere as it is not, as far as the UK authorities are concerned, a vehicle and if it is not registered elsewhere by another licensing authority as a vehicle it cannot be used legally on the road anywhere.

Of course, if it is not validly taxed it will not be validly insured either.

Answer 3

I worked for the army in Germany and did the relicensing of cars for soldiers and their families for use in the country and for security reasons too. All those cars had to have a tax disc including the British civilians that just worked there but they worked within the forces network - NAAFI shop, and volunteering services. If you are working in the continent outwith any British government networks and have a an address to stay long term, you will need to go by the countries rules of taxing it their way if they do it. Declare the car is no longer in Britain and the DVLA will take it off their network but you will need to register your car with the country you will be staying in.
If you are travelling long term around the continent and will have nowhere permanent to stay, you will have to tax it in Britain as normal. Please double check with DVLA as it was about 8years ago I worked for the army offices and things may have changed even if only slighty.

Have fun!

Answer 4

No you dont as a UK tax disc is only required by UK government whilst you're in the UK.

Answer 5

No you need to tax the car locally. Fines can be pretty hefty if stopped.

Answer 6

No, but make sure you have your 'green card'