Hi Mark:

I think you might be missing the nuance that exists between 'registration' and 'having a valid tax disk'.

In my particular case (that being the only case I can talk about with any authority), my motorcycle is unquestionably 'registered'. It does not have a current validity sticker (required for operation in the home country), but it certainly is 'registered'.

I think that what the original poster needs to do is determine if a valid UK tax sticker is necessary to maintain registration of his moto (my guess is that this is unlikely), or if a valid tax sticker is necessary in order to comply with the requirements for driving on public roads in the home country.

One possible way of determining this might be to observe vehicles that are fitted with licence plates, but never operated on public roads. Examples of this would include ramp vehicles used at airports, or shuttle and tug vehicles used in container yards at marine ports. If these vehicles are observed to be operating with a licence plate installed, but no tax disk, then that implies that the tax disk is not a prerequisite to maintain vehicle registration, but instead a requirement for vehicles that will be operated on public roads.

The above suggestion won't provide a conclusive answer (a review of the applicable legislation will be needed), but it might suggest what the final answer is going to be.

Michael