V5 Doc & tax after car written off

Rose_Crow

Hi everyone,

I managed to have an accident last week, insurance rang me today to let me know it was a write-off and that the payment would be in the post.

Problem is: the day before the accident, I posted my V5 off to the DVLA for change of address. Luckily I had a photocopy of it, so the insurance could have various reference numbers off the front. The insurance (Elephant) didn't mention what happens to the V5 when it eventually comes back from the DVLA, and I didn't think to ask until after I got off the phone.

The other point is that I have my tax disc, which has a few months left on it. The form which you can print off online has a part about the car being scrapped. Do I tick this despite not having the V5 to send to the DVLA? Or will this totally confuse them? I don't really want to wait for the V5 to come back, as you know how the tax refund works what with whole months.

Any ideas? Many thanks in advance!

Lum

Normally you would send the V5 to the insurance company as once written off they own the remains of your car. You do not need the V5 to claim a tax refund.

Get the tax refund form, stick the disc to it, fill it in send to DVLA.

If you really don't trust them. Take the form and the disc to your DVLA local office and they will check it all in front of you. This is what I did when my car was written off. Had no problems.

Rose_Crow

Thanks Lum. The reason I asked about the V5 was because I thought, if I send back the disc, with the box ticked saying the car's been scrapped, will the insurance company have already told them this, even without the V5? Like the idea of going to the DVLA office, will look my my local one.

Lum

I don't think it matters. If this does become an issue then declare it SORN instead. Once you send off the V5 to the insurance company it's their problem to keep it off road and notify the DVLA of the car's destruction anyway.

Obviously you can't do this if the remains of your car are parked on the road, but I suspect it's currently with your insurance assessors.