DVLA Failure to relicense

MiserlyMartin

My neighbour stopped me yesterday and said, "Do you realise your car tax has run out?" I was shocked and my first reaction was, "I was sure I taxed it"! However after checking my bank statements and pondering it for a day I wasn't sure if I did tax it. I haven't recieved a fine yet. The disc on my windscreen ran out end of April!!

I phoned the DVLA and they told me I should go to a post office and get the tax tomorrow. I can only tax it from the 1st of this month. I will need to write to the DVLA and explain why I have not taxed the car earlier and they will bill me for those 2 months

I remember that I noticed the tax was going to run out this April but decided to wait for the form to arrive and renew online. The form never came and the whole thing slipped my mind. But thanks to this thread I've now learnt that you do not need that form to renew online - your logbook number will also do fine. These things are easily done and in a world where we are increasingly busy its easy to depend on a reminder. This is the first time a reminder has never arrived in 17 years of driving. Lay off the original poster, they're here for advice - not preaching by self righteous people who apparently never have been forgetful in their lives.

MiserlyMartin

ariba10 wrote: »

If you rely on a notice for renewal, how do you manage with the MOT?

Not sure about the OP but MOT is the MOT. There are no renewal forms sent out and we are all used to checking this and remembering. The tax disc is a different thing.

I can't believe the rudeness of some of the people on here. Who actually looks at their tax disc? Its put on the passenger side of the windscreen so you would never notice it being out of date by accident.

People ought to remember that this is just another government tax. Government are keen enough to tax us automatically on our insurance premiums, fuel, and income. Its something that we have to pay by law so why not take it in the same way these other taxes are collected instead of collecting more money exploiting peoples memories.

bestpud

Perhaps I'm a bit odd then as I know exactly when we need to tax, insure and MOT our car - I remember as it's something that has to be done and I don't fancy paying more due to forgetting.

MY OH knows the months (not actual dates though, I don't think) these things need renewing too, even though it is me that sorts it out.

I'm not an organised person (wish I was) but some things just have to be done on time so I make a point of making sure they are!

OP, perhaps you could get a calendar and write stuff like this on it?

hellofreebies

i bet everyone who read this thread will never forget again when their tax needs renewing....basically if you cant be bothered to remember then it will cost you...me being a mse fanatic i never forget simply because it is a tax that i really dont want to pay more then i have to....no ones saying he's not responsible but as i said before just a sucker for giving the goverment more power to make an extra buck ie.
happy motoring!

MiserlyMartin

The point is that when you recieve a form is not just a 'reminder'; its a form that you take to the post office or to use online to actually go and pay the tax...

Most people know its time to renew when they get this and use it in the process. If it doesn't arrive then so many people would not think to check the disc every month.

An update. I got my road tax disc at the post office (which started in June) on tuesady. I sent my letter to my local DVLA office on Wednesday explaining that the form never arrived, also stating my previously unblemished record of paying car tax on time and asking how much I owe in backtax which will be happy to pay.

This morning I got a letter from DLVA telling me I haven't re-licenced my car and fining me £80 reduced to £40 if paid within a month! This letter was dated 8/7/07.. but only arrived today!! I'm sure I've only got this letter because I drew attention to myself by taxing the car, having recieved no communication previously.

They did state that in exceptional circumstances I could write explainign why the car was not taxed, of course I already have a letter in the post as mentioned before. My dilemma is now if a form not arriving is acceptable for them as exceptional circumstances. Its pay £40 now or wait and see if they waive it - lose and pay £80. They must have caught lots of people ot like this. Any advice?

Keith

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

Any advice?

Pay the fine, before they take it further, if they then accept your letter you can ask for a refund of the fine.

The tax disc in your windscreen should be a decent reminder when it is due, I've walked past my car this week and noticed it's due end of September. How you've not noticed is beyond me.

Conor_3

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

I can't believe the rudeness of some of the people on here. Who actually looks at their tax disc?

Me. I can drive up to 20 different vehicles a week up to hundreds of different ones in a year. Not only do I have a tax disc to check but I've got to check for a valid operators licence and the MOT disc on the trailer. And I manage to do this without any issue.

C_Ronaldo

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

I can't believe the rudeness of some of the people on here. Who actually looks at their tax disc? Its put on the passenger side of the windscreen so you would never notice it being out of date by accident.

I know when mine runs out like ive said, what you do to remind your self when the tax runs out is to make a note in your mobile or write on the calender saying "gat tax" or "get MOT"

MiserlyMartin

Who actually looks at their tax disc (its on the other side of the car!) apart from those who drive for a living? I never see my car from the front at a distance close enough to read the disc, I rarely wash it, its old. I only see it from the drivers side when I get into it. As I think I explained earlier, I was already aware roughly when it ran out and I did actually observe in March that it was due on the end of April. I made a mental note to tax it online instead of spending ages at post office. For that I will need the form that they send with all the details on and made another mental note to do it when the paperwork arrived. Problem was - it never arrived and I forgot all about it!

Lets not argue about why or how I am in this pickle. Its not helpful, I am there now, whats the best way out of it? I, and others like me who are law abiding motorists, who never normally fail to pay road tax are being treated like criminals and are easy soft targets. Whereas there are people who don't have and never will have tax, MOT and insurance are getting away with it year after year using false addresses etc. Its a disgrace.

judderman62

MiserlyMartin wrote: »

Who actually looks at their tax disc (its on the other side of the car!) apart from those who drive for a living? I never see my car from the front at a distance close enough to read the disc, I rarely wash it, its old. I only see it from the drivers side when I get into it. As I think I explained earlier, I was already aware roughly when it ran out and I did actually observe in March that it was due on the end of April. I made a mental note to tax it online instead of spending ages at post office. For that I will need the form that they send with all the details on and made another mental note to do it when the paperwork arrived. Problem was - it never arrived and I forgot all about it!

Lets not argue about why or how I am in this pickle. Its not helpful, I am there now, whats the best way out of it? I, and others like me who are law abiding motorists, who never normally fail to pay road tax are being treated like criminals and are easy soft targets. Whereas there are people who don't have and never will have tax, MOT and insurance are getting away with it year after year using false addresses etc. Its a disgrace.

fully agree with everything you've said there.

To the sanctimonious types your posts don't help the person asking - well done you you never forget - we're all human and all make the odd mistake - so in future please get off peoples backs and if you have something helpful to offer please do so - if not - save your time - having a dig does no one any service and wastes your time typing it and others reading it.