In 1865 the expression “keeper” became the favoured nomenclature instead of “owner”. This expression is still used on the DVLA’s official forms today.

In the 1860's an annual licence was county based and valid until the December of the year of issue. Since it only allowed for travel within the county of origination, if you wanted to travel into, or through, other counties additional licences for these counties had to be bought. In addition to having a description of the vehicle, the issuing county and the cost, it also showed the owners address.

It soon became necessary to instruct people on how to deal with other road users. Who had the right of way in various circumstances for example? Police officers were also eventually given authority to stop vehicles they wished. By 1889 licences for almost all vehicles in Britain were an absolute requirement.

“The Motor Car Act 1903 (3 Edw.7, c. 36) introduced registration of motor cars and licensing of drivers in the United Kingdom and increased the speed limit. The act followed the Locomotives on Highways Act 1896 which had increased the speed limit for motorcars to 14 mph from previous 4 mph speed limit in rural area and 2 mph in towns. There were some who wished to see the speed limit removed altogether. The influential Automobile Club (soon to become the Royal Automobile Club or RAC) was split on the subject; the chair of the working group on the Bill was Lord Montagu (MP) who took a moderate line supporting speed limits, but was opposed on this by the chairman of the organisation Roger Wallace who were 'strongly against any speed limit' and described Montagu as a ‘traitor’. The secretary of the club publicly proposed a 'compromise' of 25 mph without authorisation. Parliamentary debates were described as 'bitter'.”

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor_Car_Act_1903

The Motor Car Act also gave the responsibility for collecting this tax from the Inland Revenue to the County Councils themselves.  It stayed like this until 1974. There was also an increase in the speed limit to 20 mph.

Further changes took in 1909 and 1910 when new Finance Acts came in.  

As the commercial and private use of motor vehicles continued to increase it became apparent that the road infrastructure was not really up to the growth and road surfaces were deteriorating rapidly. (The 1914-18 war years in particular had boosted vehicle use.)  Because of this a Royal Commission was set up in 1919 to consider how best to tackle the problem and this came up with suggestions to remedy things. This august body was the embryo that eventually grew into the Road Traffic Acts of 1919 and 1920.

Anomalies had crept into the system as the legislation evolved, which led to a lot of unfairness and inequality. This was particularly because taxation rates were calculated on the assumed horsepower of a vehicle. However, there were various ways of doing the math for this, and a number of methods of horsepower calculations came about because of this. (There was Nominal Horsepower, Indicated Horsepower, Brake Horsepower and Shaft Horsepower.)

For a full explanation of how this bewildering array of calculations was made see the following Wikipedia website link:

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horsepower#RAC_horsepower_.28taxable_horsepower.29

Additional information regarding the history of the British Tax Disc can be seen at this link:

Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_tax_disc#History

Vehicle registration plates of the United Kingdom

Vehicle registration plates are the mandatory number plates used to display the registration mark of a vehicle, and have existed in the United Kingdom since 1904. Most motor vehicles which are used on public roads are required by law to display them.

The Motor Car Act 1903, which came into force on 1 January 1904, required all motor vehicles to be entered on an official vehicle register, and to carry number plates. The Act was passed in order that vehicles could be easily traced in the event of an accident or contravention of the law. Vehicle registration number plates in the UK are rectangular or square in shape, with the exact permitted dimensions of the plate and its lettering set down in law.

Within the UK itself there are currently two numbering and registration systems: one for the island of Great Britain, which is administered by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), and one for Northern Ireland, administered by the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA): both have equal status. Other schemes relating to the UK are also listed below.

For a full history of registration plates in the United Kingdom please see the following link:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_the_United_Kingdom#Before_1932

6. Detailed History of the Tax Disc