Road tax fine - advice please!

freakedout

Hi, am relieved ti find this forum: just got stopped by police today because they saw my Tax disc was 6 MONTHS OUT OF DATE!!!

I now realize after going over all my bank staements and old records that I had never received either a reminder to renew, nor did I get a penalty notice (6 weeks after tax expiry deadline?) nor have I gotten any other communication through the post or email. I paid it online last time, and got a confirmation email to tel me I would get it. You would think they could email me to remind me that I needed another soon!

I am now left with a £60 fine from the police, and an unknown fine from the DVLA lot - unknown til I find out on Monday- now am quite scared and as my user name says very freaked out- my weekend is ruined.

I am NOT a scam artist, I have no intention of defrauding the DVAL of their car tax... I merely have a life and did not think to check the car tax disc. I only use it probably once a week, and have never been late with it before.
Yes, 6 months is a long time, but not if one has a head full of a thousand other things to think about!

Can anyone help by at least telling me what I am likely to be facing as a fine?
DVLA helpline says I can only speak to someone to immediatly pay the fine... but not discuss the matter. Doesn't really help if I don't even know how much blood they want from me!!


(sorry btw also put this on end of a SORN thread)

HappyMJ

Your reminder is on the round bit of paper on the widscreen every time you get in the car. Nice big numbers so none of us forget...

It'll just be a £60 fine plus the outstanding tax.

welshlil

I'm not sure but I

welshlil

I'm not sure but I think you will have to cough up, you do not get a reminder for a M.O.T. - forgetfulness is not allowed in this case, perhaps putting a reminder on your calendar may help.

zenmaster

Looks like £80. Could be up to £1000 if you are a persistent offender, which I guess you are not.

I'm surprised you got a police fine as well. I would have thought it would be one penalty.

HappyMJ

zenmaster wrote: »

Looks like £80. Could be up to £1000 if you are a persistent offender, which I guess you are not.

I'm surprised you got a police fine as well. I would have thought it would be one penalty.

OK £80 but why did the OP only get a £60 fine??? It'll only be one fine though. You won't get two fines for the same offence uinless you deecline the automatic penalty and go to court. The police won't ask for arrears of tax only the dvla will.

hewhoisnotintheknow

pay it and invest in a calendar

Lorian

I get a reminder in the post. Good job too or I'd be in the same boat.

I've paid last 2 years on the web, still get the postal reminder.

Pennylane

Take something positive from this - you will never, ever forget to renew your road tax again. PROMISE!!;) I well remember my son when he first had a credit card, paying at the end of the month and forgetting to allow time for it to go through. He was only charged a few quid but he was beside himself with rage because he wasn't earning much. I showed him the small print and he has never ever been late again.

mcspanna

HappyMJ wrote: »

OK £80 but why did the OP only get a £60 fine??? It'll only be one fine though. You won't get two fines for the same offence uinless you deecline the automatic penalty and go to court. The police won't ask for arrears of tax only the dvla will.

Looks like the £60 is a police fine and the £80 will be the dvla fine...the only reason I can think of for no reminder is that the OP has moved house and not informed dvla. OP be warned, I'm not sure if the same applies now but we were in a similar situation several years ago and the £80 fines were not one offs but every month until the car was taxed.

HappyMJ

mcspanna wrote: »

Looks like the £60 is a police fine and the £80 will be the dvla fine...the only reason I can think of for no reminder is that the OP has moved house and not informed dvla. OP be warned, I'm not sure if the same applies now but we were in a similar situation several years ago and the £80 fines were not one offs but every month until the car was taxed.

Thank you.

I'd say the OP is quite lucky not to have the car towed away at great cost as well as having the potential of a £1000 fine.