DVLA "Fine" for Uninsured Scrap

GingerBob_3

Here's the story: Son bought a motorbike for spare parts. Previous owner sent log book to DVLA notifying change of ownership. Son did nothing apart from dismantle motorbike - reckons he told DVLA it was scrapped, but I'm not so sure he did. Now DVLA write to him saying vehicle is not insured. Pay up £50 now or £100 in two weeks time and either SORN it or insure it.

What's the best way to avoid paying this so called "fine", if indeed it is possible? I'm inclined to tell him to write to DVLA saying he's already told them it was scrapped (and in any case he doesn't have a motorbike licence). Anyone had a similar experience of this sort of thing?

AdrianC

How did he "tell them it was scrapped"? Did he send the V5C to them with a covering letter? Did he get any acknowledgement?
What does a vehicle licence search show for it?

SORN always expires on change of keeper - always has done, since it was introduced in the '90s. A couple of years ago, continuous insurance was introduced, which says any vehicle must be either insured and taxed OR SORNed. So, given he didn't SORN it on buying it - regardless of whether the scrapping notification went through - he's liable.

Whether he has a licence or not is irrelevant - you don't need a licence to be registered keeper and be responsible for the vehicle.

He needs to SORN it ASAP. He can then either argue it and try to get it cancelled, or pay the £50. But then get it notified as scrapped properly and get acknowledgement from DVLA. That's separate to the fine, though.

rds60h

I think you would be better asking about this on a specialist site such as Pepipoo.
http://www.pepipoo.com/

GingerBob_3

AdrianC wrote: »

How did he "tell them it was scrapped"? Did he send the V5C to them with a covering letter? Did he get any acknowledgement?
What does a vehicle licence search show for it?

SORN always expires on change of keeper - always has done, since it was introduced in the '90s. A couple of years ago, continuous insurance was introduced, which says any vehicle must be either insured and taxed OR SORNed. So, given he didn't SORN it on buying it - regardless of whether the scrapping notification went through - he's liable.

Whether he has a licence or not is irrelevant - you don't need a licence to be registered keeper and be responsible for the vehicle.

He needs to SORN it ASAP. He can then either argue it and try to get it cancelled, or pay the £50. But then get it notified as scrapped properly and get acknowledgement from DVLA. That's separate to the fine, though.

Reckons he wrote to them telling them it was scrapped; I'm not so sure though. I'm wondering if he writes again simply stating "I told you I'd scrapped it on dd/mm/yyyy and you didn't acknowledge this".

Fact is, he actually bought what amounted to a load of scrap metal, but of course that's not relevant to DVLA.

arcon5

Would it not be a separate offence of some sort to falsely tell them it was scrapped when it actually hasn't been?

Also I thgought it was authorised treatment facilities that notified dvla about a scrapped vehicle?

GingerBob_3

arcon5 wrote: »

Would it not be a separate offence of some sort to falsely tell them it was scrapped when it actually hasn't been?

Also I thgought it was authorised treatment facilities that notified dvla about a scrapped vehicle?

It has been scrapped. It was bought and immediately dismantled, the engine being used in a go-kart and the rest of it elsewhere or sold as separate components.

AdrianC

arcon5 wrote: »

Also I thgought it was authorised treatment facilities that notified dvla about a scrapped vehicle?

They do, if they've disposed of one. But, otherwise, they won't.

DVLA don't make it easy to scrap a vehicle yourself, but it is legal to do so.
https://www.gov.uk/scrapped-and-written-off-vehicles/using-a-vehicle-for-parts is about the closest they come to telling you how.

mgdavid

OP - so following the advice in the link in post #7 write to them again, telling them it has been dismantled for parts, as you told them already on such-and-such a date (shortly after it was bought.)
Either the first letter was lost by the PO or lost inside DVLA but it is not up to you to prove where it was lost. There is plenty of evidence that hundreds, possibly thousands of letters to DVLA are lost every year.

Marvel1

GingerBob wrote: »

Here's the story: Son bought a motorbike for spare parts. Previous owner sent log book to DVLA notifying change of ownership. Son did nothing apart from dismantle motorbike - reckons he told DVLA it was scrapped, but I'm not so sure he did. Now DVLA write to him saying vehicle is not insured. Pay up £50 now or £100 in two weeks time and either SORN it or insure it.

He would have received a warning letter to either SORN or Insure it by a certain date, before the fine is issued.

GingerBob_3

mgdavid wrote: »

OP - so following the advice in the link in post #7 write to them again, telling them it has been dismantled for parts, as you told them already on such-and-such a date (shortly after it was bought.)
Either the first letter was lost by the PO or lost inside DVLA but it is not up to you to prove where it was lost. There is plenty of evidence that hundreds, possibly thousands of letters to DVLA are lost every year.

I think this is worth trying. Just wondering if they'll put the threat of escalation from £50 to £100 fine on hold while they consider it.