I cannot tax my new car because DVLA does not have record

h4mza

This story may sound incomplete as I'm still trying to figure out something but I was wondering if anyone can give advice.

My uncle who is a trader bought me a car from BCA about 2 weeks ago. The only paperwork he got was receipt and MOT papers. No green slip so I was unable to tax it. I thought I'd just park the car up and try selling my old car. So 2 weeks later I sold my old car and transferred insurance over to new car. Still no log book arrived by mail, I thought I'll apply for a new one. The DVLA website showed I can buy road tax at the same time from post office. So I went to post office and was told DVLA cannot find record of my car. As it was Saturday evening, DVLA were closed until Monday. So Monday I got in contact with them and told me the car has been previously associated with a private number plate. The number plate attached on the car was the original one.

I got in touch with the previous owner who then told me he part exchanged the car with a company with the private number plate attached. So I got in touch with the company and they weren't much helpful. They said they would look into it and call us back but they never did. So I called again and they said the same thing but eventually did call back and say the car had a private number plate and they told me what the plate was.

I did a quick number plate check and it comes up as a different car similar model to mine but newer. My car is a 2004 VW Golf 1.9 TDI SE Silver and the private plate shows 2010 VW Golf Plus 1.6 TDI Silver.

So now I'm confused to what is happening. If the private plate was taken off my car, wouldn't the original be registered back to it?

I'm waiting to get in touch with DVLA tomorrow when they are open but what would you do in this situation?

Marvel1

I would be wondering why in the hell didn't my Uncle who is a trader who should know better not bother with the green slip, did he even check if a V5C was with the vehicle?

Yes the original plate would have gone back to the vehicle and a new V5C included showing it also.

AdrianC

The original plate MIGHT have gone back onto your car, unless it had been transferred off onto something else - or unless the car was registered new with that private plate, so there was no original. Or unless a different plate was put onto it.

You're going to need to work with DVLA to get a V5C in your name, probably going from the VIN if the plate you think should be on it doesn't show up on http://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

Until you get confirmation of what plate it actually has, you can't tax or SORN it.

david_a

The plate may have been physically attached to the car but that doesn't mean it was still registered to it. Either the previous owner had it transferred to his new car and left the old plates on the car or, less likely he traded it in with that plate and the dealer transferred it. The last owner should be able to clarify this. Ask him what the original number was, if you can't find it in the service book. He should have received an new V5 in hIs name. If you do need to speak to DVLA it might be a good idea to have the chassis number handy.

mark5

Why not do a full HPI check, they usually give all previous owners, number plate changes etc?

It's not exactly money saving but should give the information you need.

Is it possible the company you called who give you the plate registration had 2 silver golfs recently and give you the details for the wrong one?