Great news Allan, enjoy your big Cat as much as you can. Laurence I pay my road taxes by direct debit over the 12 monthly scheme because proportionally the 6 times monthly premiums equate to less than the upfront 6 months tax figure. Besides this, if for example after a few months for some reason the car requires work potentially resulting in being off the road for a long period,you simply cancel the direct debit a week before the next due payment and make a SORN declaration on the very last day of the present month in which your last payment covered. This applies to any month throughout the annual road tax year. The fee charged for paying by direct debit is smaller that the amount paid for doing 6 months x 1 or two periods of 6 months if that the only way some can afford. Hope this makes sense, much easier when discussing face to face