A car is bought/sold on a specific date and that is filled in on the v5. Technically as soon as a car is sold it is untaxed - if you drive it home you will pass APNR cameras etc. Also once home if not on SORN you own an untaxed car - all of which could trigger something nasty in the post.

When I sold a car privately last year the change of owner/v5 was done online so immediate,

I see, I was thinking in terms of the old fashioned 'papers in the post' scenario. Of course, doing it online could cause issues with APNR cams I agree. I guess it would depend (in the paper case) whether DVLA look at the purchase dates and whether they match up with the tax/SORN dates. One would hope they're not so scrupulous but if sod's law is anything to go by....

I'd better just tax it and curse the daft monthly system which makes no sense!

Cheers

At what rate would one pay car tax to make this sort of jiggery pokery even vaguely worthwhile. If DVLA are processing paper forms then I'm pretty sure the system would flag up any 'missing' months and probably sleight of hand with SORN would too. Buying the car in March but registering the change on 01 April simply moves the loss from purchaser to seller.

For the vast majority it's quick and easy to do it on line when the sale occurs.

Yes, I understand Skidpan's position with a leisure car only used in summer is different.

I have thought about a way to avoid DVLA being paid twice for the overlapping month. Seller SORNs the car late in the month, buyer taxes it on the first of the following month. In between, the vehicle is notionally on a transporter from seller to buyer.

I haven't tried to put it into practice yet, and probably never will now, but it might be worth a try :-)

Slight issue. if you SORN on line there has to be a 5 day gap before you can retax the car online. You can however go to your local Post Office (assuming you have one) and retax it at the counter immediately.

I have thought about a way to avoid DVLA being paid twice for the overlapping month. Seller SORNs the car late in the month, buyer taxes it on the first of the following month. In between, the vehicle is notionally on a transporter from seller to buyer.

I haven't tried to put it into practice yet, and probably never will now, but it might be worth a try :-)

That only works legally if the vehicle is parked on private property during the SORN period, or with all 4 wheels on a trailer/transporter - it can't be used if the vehicle is parked on public highway.