There are no plans to drop the requirement for motorists to display a tax disc.

Infrastructure Minister Tim Baker made a statement on the future of vehicle licensing in this month’s Tynwald.

In the UK, the government dropped the requirement for motorists to display a tax disc, since then the number of motorists who have skipped paying the tax was said to have risen sharply.

Mr Baker told Tynwald: ’The use of the roadside ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) is now a routine part of the department’s enforcement of vehicle tax, so it would be possible to remove the tax disc if that was seen to offer an overall benefit.’

From later this year, drivers will be given the option to pay six months vehicle duty rather than the fixed year. In the UK motorists can pay either every month, six months or 12 months.

He said: ’The department intends to introduce a full suite of online services for driver and vehicle licensing services. I am keen to provide options for those who are not able to or do not want to use the online option. That is likely to mean postal or telephone options.

’The department will also maintain a service in the community through businesses such as sub post offices. This work is in the development and design stage and an implementation programme has not yet been established.’