A scheme allowing motorists to tax their cars by phone or online has been extended to cover the whole of the UK.
Under it, drivers no longer need to present MOT and insurance documents at a post office as these details can be checked against a central database.
The new system, introduced after a series of successful pilots, can be used 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Transport Secretary Alistair Darling told BBC News that the changes would help prevent fraud.
He said: "When you re-tax your car online or over the phone, the DVLA can tell instantly whether or not your car actually has an MOT or if you're insured.
"Whereas with paper you can always try and produce something that defrauds the system, you cannot do that this way."
He said it was now taken for granted that people could book holidays, conduct business and do "all sorts of things" online from the comfort of their homes.
He added: "There's absolutely no reason why they shouldn't be able to tax their cars in the same way."
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