SORN Question - Can car be seized from driveway?

Lee2011_2

Hi I'm Lee (a Newbie).

I've just returned from 6 months working abroad to 3x letters (from various DVLA depts.) relating to "Failure to license/SORN..."
Plus more worryingly a letter from "Phillips Collection Services" claiming to be bailiffs threatening to clamp/tow said vehicle from my driveway!

I've looked on Trust Online who have no listing of a CCJ against me, therefore while I dispute this with DVLA am I in danger of the car being taken? Can they take goods without a CCJ?

The reason I wish to dispute it as I emailed DVLA 4 weeks after sending off the SORN reminder and have the copy of their email reply and their reference no. DVLA's response was to deal with "Phillips" - Who of course aren't interested!

Please help guys! Many thanks.

david_hellier

It can be siezed if it's on your driveway. If it's not on your drive way, but on someone else's, this is a bit more of a logistical problem for the DVLA

Billy_two_speakers

Lee2011 wrote: »

Hi I'm Lee (a Newbie).

I've just returned from 6 months working abroad to 3x letters (from various DVLA depts.) relating to "Failure to license/SORN..."
Plus more worryingly a letter from "Phillips Collection Services" claiming to be bailiffs threatening to clamp/tow said vehicle from my driveway!

I've looked on Trust Online who have no listing of a CCJ against me, therefore while I dispute this with DVLA am I in danger of the car being taken? Can they take goods without a CCJ?

The reason I wish to dispute it as I emailed DVLA 4 weeks after sending off the SORN reminder and have the copy of their email reply and their reference no. DVLA's response was to deal with "Phillips" - Who of course aren't interested!

Please help guys! Many thanks.

Have you not seen the adverts on TV ? they can take it they even take cars off people in the street if you get stopped no tax they can take it off you and keep it till you pay tax and charges can be up to £1,000 see DVLA web site

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/UntaxedVehicle/DG_4022059

AA99

They can only seize your car if it's on HP, not a fixed sum credit agreement, and if they have a court order!:mad:

Billy_two_speakers

AA99 wrote: »

They can only seize your car if it's on HP, not a fixed sum credit agreement, and if they have a court order!:mad:

Not true they take the car from you and impound it they charge you for the tow and storage charges

here is an example try any police force web site they all charge, if they stop you and your not taxed then by law your insurance is not in force too

http://www.durham.police.uk/recoveredvehicles/storagecharges.php


http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/legal-implications-avoiding-car-tax-insurance.html

Did you know that not having car tax invalidates your motor insurance?

A lot of people don’t realise that if they ‘forget’ to renew their road tax when it runs out – or don’t purchase it at all – then their car insurance is null and void. If they are involved in an accident while untaxed, then they will essentially be uninsured and will be subject to all the consequences as described above. Even if they have been paying their car insurance, it won’t make any difference – you’re still guilty of committing a criminal offence.


So what can happen if I’m caught?

Depending on what you’ve done, the consequences can be pretty nasty. At best, you’ll get a fine and potentially a ban. You might find that your car is clamped, towed away and resold or even crushed – and of course as you’re not insured, you won’t get a penny for it. Worst case scenario: you’re caught because you’re involved in an accident and you end up in court, bankrupt and facing a jail sentence. So just remember; if you can’t afford to tax and insure your vehicle, then you can’t afford to drive it.

Lee2011_2

Thanks for the replies.

I'm confused though how they can take the car if it hasn't been used on the road?

Doesn't this only apply to cars used/kept on the public highway?

Billy_two_speakers

Lee2011 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I'm confused though how they can take the car if it hasn't been used on the road?

Doesn't this only apply to cars used/kept on the public highway?

the tv adverts they use to run show cars on the road and ove under a cover off the road

Trollfever

Lee2011 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

I'm confused though how they can take the car if it hasn't been used on the road?

Doesn't this only apply to cars used/kept on the public highway?

SORN = Statutory Off Road Notification

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/UntaxedVehicle/DG_4022059

telboyo

SORN stands for "Statutory Off Road Notification" which means that you need to make a STATUTORY NOTIFICATION if you car is kept OFF the ROAD.
Obviously if your car is on the road it will need to be taxed. If it is off the road it needs to be SORN.
Either way failure to pay or notify will cause you pain

HappyMJ

Billy_two_speakers wrote: »

Not true they take the car from you and impound it they charge you for the tow and storage charges

here is an example try any police force web site they all charge, if they stop you and your not taxed then by law your insurance is not in force too

http://www.durham.police.uk/recoveredvehicles/storagecharges.php


http://www.nopenaltypoints.co.uk/legal-implications-avoiding-car-tax-insurance.html

Did you know that not having car tax invalidates your motor insurance?

A lot of people don’t realise that if they ‘forget’ to renew their road tax when it runs out – or don’t purchase it at all – then their car insurance is null and void. If they are involved in an accident while untaxed, then they will essentially be uninsured and will be subject to all the consequences as described above. Even if they have been paying their car insurance, it won’t make any difference – you’re still guilty of committing a criminal offence.


So what can happen if I’m caught?

Depending on what you’ve done, the consequences can be pretty nasty. At best, you’ll get a fine and potentially a ban. You might find that your car is clamped, towed away and resold or even crushed – and of course as you’re not insured, you won’t get a penny for it. Worst case scenario: you’re caught because you’re involved in an accident and you end up in court, bankrupt and facing a jail sentence. So just remember; if you can’t afford to tax and insure your vehicle, then you can’t afford to drive it.

That is not true. You may be quoting from a website that claims it to be true but not having tax (or even a MOT) does not invalidate insurance. You will still be covered by the compulsory third party provisions of the insurance policy. The insurer may try to get out paying out on a full comprehensive claim but that's an optional insurance and is not required by law. If you would like to quote from actual laws that have been passed then I await to be corrected.

I would like to add it is perfectly legal for an insured driver of another car with "drive other cars add-on" to drive an untaxed car without insurance, tax or MOT to/from a prebooked visit at a MOT test centre for the purposes of obtaining a MOT to then obtain a tax disc which can't be obtained without a valid MOT. Many conditions apply to the "drive other cars add-on" so check with the insurer before doing that. They will usually make a note on the policy so if police ring them they can then say you are covered but only from point A to point B.

HappyMJ

Lee2011 wrote: »

Hi I'm Lee (a Newbie).

I've just returned from 6 months working abroad to 3x letters (from various DVLA depts.) relating to "Failure to license/SORN..."
Plus more worryingly a letter from "Phillips Collection Services" claiming to be bailiffs threatening to clamp/tow said vehicle from my driveway!

I've looked on Trust Online who have no listing of a CCJ against me, therefore while I dispute this with DVLA am I in danger of the car being taken? Can they take goods without a CCJ?

The reason I wish to dispute it as I emailed DVLA 4 weeks after sending off the SORN reminder and have the copy of their email reply and their reference no. DVLA's response was to deal with "Phillips" - Who of course aren't interested!

Please help guys! Many thanks.

Back on topic...They won't take it. I've had letters from them many many letters for the same thing. Nobody ever visits they just send lots of letters. SORN the car and keep appealing the letters or ignore them but I'd say don't pay the penalty unless forced to in a court. They won't take you to court due to the number of mistakes they have made in previous cases. It's not worth it to continue chasing so they eventually give up. It's not a criminal offence to fail to license/declare SORN it is a civil matter between you and the DVLA. It is criminal if they actually find you with a car on the road that has no tax though.