The envelope from DVLA proudly blazes on the front “Renew your tax disc online: visit www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc” and I can Win a SEAT IBIZA Ecomotive 1.4 TDI. Cool.
On the back it tells me to “Renew your tax disc on the phone: call 0870 850 4444” OK, maybe.
Inside there’s a letter from Andrew J Rhodes, a form and a leaflet.
The letter says I can renew my vehicle tax or declare SORN quickly and easily online at www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc or call 0870 850 4444. What’s more, that gives me the opportunity to win a SEAT IBIZA Ecomotive 1.4 TDI. Apparently there’s also a no purchase entry route (to ensure conformance to the British code of sales promotion practice or whatever it’s now called) at www.dvlaprizedraw.org)
The form is a V11 - a renewal reminder for a tax disc or Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). It says “Do it online at www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc”. It also says “www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc - It’s quick, safe & esay to tax or SORN online or by phone. A bit lower it says “You can apply for a tax disc or make a SORN online at www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc or by phoning 0870 850 4444.
To tax I need a debit card and to go online at www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc
The extra leaflet underlines the point: It’s quick and easy to apply for a new tax disc online or by phone: www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc 0870 850 4444. It then asks the question: What’s the easiest way to renew your tax disc? Answer: Go to www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc or phone 0870 850 4444.
Remember, it says, you can apply online or by phone 24 hours a day

Happily, if you like the whole idea but want to support your Post Office (r) you can do that and try to win the SEAT IBIZA Ecomotive 1.4 TDI by going to www.dvlaprizedraw.org. Hurrah. Thank heavens we got that straight. And some of the leaflets are on 100% recycled paper (tho othe5rs merely 50% recycled).

Public transport isn’t up to much in Hambledon Surrey, and we have (with apologies to the glaciers) two cars. So I got two letters. That means I have been told by DVLA in writing 16 times in one day to go to www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc

Wibbi they just send a postcard? Or an email?

UPDATE: But I have to say, it is - as they repeatedly told me - indeed quite quick and convenient. Perhaps visitors will be rushing over from Estonia to see how on earth we did it. Who DID do it, I wonder?It’s almost as good as a MySociety service, or something run by James’s clever company Venda. And they sent me a nice email to confirm. Perhaps they’ll just send me emails in future.

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