The car tax disc, which has been a commonplace sight in car windscreens for the last ninety years, could be axed under plans being considered by the government.
Ministers claim that scrapping the paper discs would save money and streamline services to motorists.
Tax discs are currently displayed on an estimated 36million vehicles as proof that road tax has been paid; however, officials have now admitted that the police can tell instantly whether or not a car has been taxed or not by accessing the DVLA computer database, rendering the paper discs unnecessary.
The abolition of paper tax discs is one of the reforms being considered by Roads Minister Stephen Hammond.
In a consultation document, the Government has spoken of removing "the need for unnecessary paper including abolishing driving licence paper counterpart and considering the continuing need for the tax disc."
The news is unlikely to be welcomed by velologists (those who collect expired tax discs), but it is clear that if the traditional paper disc is indeed obsolete, it makes sense to remove the need for drivers to display one on their windscreen.
