In desperate need of advise re: no tax.

WorriedBea · 19 March 2017 at 9:13AM

So this is going to sound terrible and it is. Basically my partner has been driving, completely unaware, for over a year with no tax or insurance. He drives more than 40 miles a day. He is very unorganised and I deal with everything but I didn't even think about his car stuff. It's been a whirlwind year with a change in his job, a new baby and myself being in hospital for a time ( I realise this is no excuse). I had to renew my insurance yesterday which made me think about his. We checked and he hasn't been insured for over a year! He just assumed it would automatically renew. We then attempted to insure his car only to discover that his tax expired over a year ago too (we bought a years worth last night). However, it gets worse as it turns out the car is not even registered at our current address, therefore we havent recieved any reminders or fines, I also realise that this possibly comes with a fine too. So basically how much trouble is he in? I'm so scared, with this adding to additional debt he's talking about suicide. Where do we go from here?

Update: the car is now taxed but when we paid for the insurance they called us and said they wouldn't do it because the car was untaxed for so long. We've tried another one and they've said that he is provisionally covered but they will call within 6 days to confirm his details.. not sure if that means they're going to cancel too? We've sent off the log book and we are off to the post office first thing to sort his license out. Have checked his license and it says it's full with no points, so I guess that's a good thing? Will look into fines when they send the license back. Really worried about the insurance as he needs his car for work, any tips on that? Thank you for all your help.

docmatt · 19 March 2017 at 9:31AM

We've all gone without tax and no insurance at some point. Mostly tax. The best thing to do is insure the car in the new address so for now you are all legal. Then you need to send the log book to dvla with the new address details and put the correct day you moved, don't lie and put today's date.

Once the new address is on the system you may get any letters/fines etc being forwarded to the new address and then deal with it from there.

There is a slim possibility by fluke that the car didn't pass any ANPR cameras and you might not get anything come through the post. I've got 5 work vans and we used one of them for 7 months without insurance, it was a massive clerical error cause we swapped the works number plates around... long story but we got away with it.

We all make mistakes so don't beat yourself up about it. Just deal with it, contemplating suicide cause you've had no insurance is a little harsh, there are people with far far more worries and debt that you are in.

For now don't worry, as long as you are legal right now that's the main thing, see what comes through the post in the coming month or so.

Best of luck.

spiro · 19 March 2017 at 9:32AM

You need to start by getting by getting address for car updated and also driving licence if that is wrong as well.
If you can I would park the car off the road until it is insured and taxed. What about MoT?
Get the car insured and tax asap. Once you have tax ideally paying by DD so you don't forget again, phone the DVLA and explain you forgot to pay the tax and ask how much you owe for the 'missed' period. Again pay this immediately. I did this when I missed a couple of months and there was no further action BUT I wasn't caught on a camera which would have resulted in a fine.

rich13348 · 19 March 2017 at 9:33AM

There is a very good chance that as it is over a year you have been sent reminders and final demands and the amount will now be with debt collectors. As for no insurance this is a crime and its a wonder he has not been stopped by the police in the year he has been driving uninsured.

You have now rectified the situation so that's good. But you need to get in front of this. Go and get any mail the previous occupant has with your or your partners name on it asap. And set up mail redirect immediately.

If you and your partner are in severe debt, speak to debt specialists like stepchange or nation debt helpline. They can help to manage your debt and maybe organise for the interest to be stopped on your debt you have now and organise a payment plan where you pay one amount and it is spread to all your creditors.

Another thing that they may advise you of if your debt suitably high enough is an IVA or individual voluntary agreement. This can affect your credit score for 6 years so not something to be taken lightly if you have a mortgage.

If he is truly suicidal then make him an appointment with your GP and get him some help as well.

The main thing is to get in front of the debt and deal with it and deal with the tax stuff asap and get a payment plan set up with them and be proactive with other debts.

Hasbeen · 19 March 2017 at 9:40AM

WorriedBea wrote: »

So this is going to sound terrible and it is. Basically my partner has been driving, completely unaware, for over a year with no tax or insurance. He drives more than 40 miles a day. He is very unorganised and I deal with everything but I didn't even think about his car stuff. It's been a whirlwind year with a change in his job, a new baby and myself being in hospital for a time ( I realise this is no excuse). I had to renew my insurance yesterday which made me think about his. We checked and he hasn't been insured for over a year! He just assumed it would automatically renew. We then attempted to insure his car only to discover that his tax expired over a year ago too (we bought a years worth last night). However, it gets worse as it turns out the car is not even registered at our current address, therefore we havent recieved any reminders or fines, I also realise that this possibly comes with a fine too. So basically how much trouble is he in? I'm so scared, with this adding to additional debt he's talking about suicide. Where do we go from here?

Has he contacted previous address for any documents letters sent?

Some info link below for tax and then scroll down for insurance.

http://www.drivingtesttips.biz/driving-without-tax.html

Basically to court up to £1000 fines plus court costs etc etc per offence

Does he have an MOT? or did he forget that as well??:(

docmatt · 19 March 2017 at 9:42AM

Are you sure he has had no insurance? Maybe it renewed with a different insurance company that you've forgotten about? Just seems unlikely that he was never ever stopped by the police.

WorriedBea · 19 March 2017 at 9:45AM

What is the fine that comes when you pass one of the tax checking camera's. Is it unlimited? Could he have been caught out every time he's driven to work? Could there be thousands and thousands of pounds worth of fines waiting for us?

WorriedBea · 19 March 2017 at 9:51AM

docmatt wrote: »

Are you sure he has had no insurance? Maybe it renewed with a different insurance company that you've forgotten about? Just seems unlikely that he was never ever stopped by the police.

Is there a way to find out? I couldn't find anything in his emails or paperwork. I also checked his bank account to see if any large payments went put around the right time.

Hasbeen · 19 March 2017 at 9:53AM

WorriedBea wrote: »

Is there a way to find out? I couldn't find anything in his emails or paperwork. I also checked his bank account to see if any large payments went put around the right time.

Check insurance here

https://ownvehicle.askmid.com/

Check MOT here

https://www.gov.uk/check-mot-status

WorriedBea · 19 March 2017 at 10:01AM

Yeah definitely no insurance, MOT is done, we did miss that too but he sorted that a few months ago. Why that didn't trigger in his mind that he needs to sort his insurance and tax I will never know...

Mr.Generous · 19 March 2017 at 10:14AM

Can you set email reminders so it never happens again? I have driven without road tax on a small motorbike as a poor student deliberately and as a motorist through my own forgetfulness. Most have done something similar at one time or another. I think a court would have some sympathy as you have come forward when you realised rather than waiting until you were caught. Worse things happen and I'm sure it will all get sorted out, try not to worry too much. I went about 3 months over and I was worried, like other poster above I got away with it. Not worth the worry to do it deliberately, I don't know why people risk it now. When I was a young'un the fine was double the duty missed. On a motorcycle up to 100cc the tax for a year was £6. The tank took £2 of fuel if that puts things into perspective.

In desperate need of advise re: no tax.

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