I am writing this post primarily to vent my frustration but also by way of creating a little evidence, just in case the electronic wizardry of the state tries to catch me out. Here is my situation, I own two vehicles one a GMC Astro Safari van, up until today my main mode of transport fully taxed, insured, mot'd and all the legal stuff. Driving home last night my Astro developed transmission problems, and early today my Astro was RAC recovered to my local garage.

The upshot is major repairs and VOR for some weeks, now I’m stranded and my only option is to put back on the road my other car which has been garaged and declared SORN since April. This is extremely important as I have a very important meeting tomorrow which I can’t afford to miss.

So having got a lift home from my local garage, I set about insuring my car on the internet, this I do at a cost of somewhere in the region of £160 OK fairly good. But I cant get a copy of the insurance certificate, which can only be sent out first class post, a bit of a wing and a prayer to tax the car as I need to be on the road by 10-30am in the morning and post is not usually received until around 11-00am. Initially I was told that a copy could be emailed to me, but later I was told that this could not be done. Stressed and frustrated now I focus on the next stage which is to get my car mot'd which very coincidentally expired yesterday. I make an appointment with my local garage and take the shortest route to the garage, car passes mot test easily, so now I only need to tax my car.

I am reminded that I can tax my car online, and think ahhh yes this will alleviate my worries of driving legally. My insurance policy {Liverpool Victoria} came into force today 19th November 2008 at 14-30hrs. At 18-42hrs I endeavour to tax my car online with the DVLA web site, however at this time the insurance database had not been updated with my policy, even though I have been given a policy number {214********} and I am not allowed to tax my car online, furthermore as I have been declined the car tax online I cannot reapply within the next 24 hours.

So here I am tonight I have paid for my insurance effective from 14-30hrs today and of course this will expire at 14-29 in twelve months time. I have paid for my mot today which again will expire in one day under twelve months 18th November 2009. I need to use my car tomorrow 20th November 2008 which I may not be able to tax even though I am quite prepared to tax this vehicle effective as from 1st November 2008

So my point is that surely with today’s technology, insurance online, electronic mot registration, and online car tax, It should not be too difficult for some ‘egghead’ to synchronise these procedures so that you get what you pay for, and get it when you pay for it. It can’t be too difficult to update a database as and when a payment is cleared surely. Remember the technology is out there, number plate recognition will determine if a vehicle is taxed and insured within three seconds.

Any comments appreciated Thanx very frustrated

Hi -- It's a real quandary that you are faced with here and boils down to the inflexibility of the system, typically, as usual.... it just happens where the timing of the events you've suffered, works against your admirable intention of doing the right thing by making sure everything is legal before using the car.

All I can suggest is to give the DVLA online vehicle taxation site another try in the early morning, the 24 hours between attempts timer might reset itself every midnight when it's taken offline for routine site maintainance instead of 24 hours, you never know with these Governmental agencies. !

You need to know that, if you purchase the tax disc online, it will be posted to you so it wont arrive for a day or two (although the car will, of course, be taxed).

When driving, be sure to keep to the speed limits and it would be best not to park on a busy high street where traffic wardens may be prowling. If you get stopped, the main thing is that you have insurance. Other offences are likely to result in a warning (at least that's what I got when stopped with everything except an MOT). You can check that you are indeed insured at www.askmid.com

Hi

Thanks for the advice much appreciated, I have just taxed my car this morning as you suggested the database must have been updated during the night sooooo I am all legal now yeah

Thanks again Bernie