“Very Rare” 100 year old car control wheels are currently on sale on an online UK shopping website for hundreds of pounds.
Exactly 100 years ago, in 1921, tax plates were first introduced in the UK automobile market, which used to be affixed to the windshield of vehicles as visual evidence of vehicle tax being paid, according to LeaseCar.uk.
The government phased out the discs, first legalized on January 1, 1921, in 2014 to move to a more digital method of registering and tracking vehicle tax.
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But smart drivers who have squeezed away their expired paper disks over the decades could now be sitting on a fortune.
A spokesperson for LeaseCar.uk said, “Many people find it fascinating to explore buying and selling websites to see the variety of used car control discs available today.
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The need to issue a paper tax certificate ended in 2014
(Image: Getty)
“These little round pieces of paper are an important part of our automotive heritage, and it is particularly poignant that on the 100th anniversary of their introduction on our streets, car tax discs from the 1920s are actively available for purchase.”
The oldest vehicle tax disc for sale on the sales page is described as “very rare” from 1921 with an expiry date of December 1923. It is priced at £ 300. The seller also has discs from 1925 and 1927 for sale.
Another control disk for sale from 1921 is said to be from the “first year of issue” and also as “very rare” with an expiry date of December 31, 1921.
It should generally be in good condition for the year and despite minor damage, the disc is still legible. The seller charges around 250 euros for this.
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People who collect old car tax wheels are known as velologists, and there is even a website devoted to the task – www.velology.co.uk – which estimates some of the rarest certificates can fetch more than £ 1,000.
Car control disks that still have their rims or rims are considered the most valuable, along with those that remain in good condition despite their age.
Some vendors also sell sets of automotive control disks from specific years, such as a collection from the 1940s or 1960s.
