Why doesn't DVLA update car V5C with driver license change of address?

DontGiveUp2011

OK so I didn't know that I'm supposed to update the car V5C certificate with the new address when moving house. I knew about the license, and did that.
I found out (actually by downloading the AA app and inputting my car details) that my tax was 5 months out of date!
I've received no letters of renewal etc. When it was a paper disc I always renewed on time because you could see the due date.

So after a few phone calls, and some fines later I'm now up to date with tax etc. and need to send my V5C form off to change address.

I think it's illogical to have the DVLA and tax etc. all under one Gov website but for them to be separate departments so one address change doesn't flag the other!! A simple note on your new drivers license that says 'have you changed your registered vehicle address too?' would have saved me so much blooming hassle!!

A warning for all those out there that may make this same mistake!!

wongataa

A driver does not have to be a registered keeper of a car and if you buy a new car on finance the finance supplier may well be the registered keeper, not the purchaser or driver. so linking a V5C to a driving license is not a good idea.

A calendar with relevant dates filled in would have saved you the hassle.

droopsnoot

I can see the OPs point - it would be quite an easy matter for the DVLA to get an address change request and apply it to any record they have for that person, whether it's a driving license, V5C or anything else - after all, if Eric Smith from 32 High Street Anytown has moved for his driving license, then surely he's moved for his V5C? But I'm sure they are probably quite separate departments and might throw "data protection" into the mix.


But it does very clearly say on the V5C, alongside the address box "You must make sure that the name and address printed here is correct. If it is not, see section 12.". And in section 12 it says "If the registered keeper details in section 1 are wrong or you want to change your name or address fill in section 6, sign the declaration and return the whole certificate to the DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA. (You should also make these changes on your driving license by sending it to DVLA, Swansea, SA9 1BN)."

securityguy

"after all, if Eric Smith from 32 High Street Anytown has moved for his driving license, then surely he's moved for his V5C?"

So if you have a father and son with the same name, and the son moves, what happens? There's no date of birth on a V5C, so you can't disambiguate this position.

Bigphil1474

Agree with you Op, they should link it, especially online. A simple pop up box would have helped, or they could easily set up an account system where you can log in with your license details or V5 details which produce a list of all the relevant docs for your name/address and give you an option to change them all at the same time. It's not going to be a particularly frequent situation where you have 2 people at the same address with the same name - possible but highly unlikely, and in any case, you, as the person updating the system, would know that.
Op, I started paying my road tax by DD - it's easier, but I do it mainly so I never forget. Only time it could go wrong is if I don't leave enough money in the account or I change bank accounts, which I tend not to do. The payment goes out around the 1st of the month.

jimjames

securityguy wrote: »

"after all, if Eric Smith from 32 High Street Anytown has moved for his driving license, then surely he's moved for his V5C?"

So if you have a father and son with the same name, and the son moves, what happens? There's no date of birth on a V5C, so you can't disambiguate this position.

Spot on. Very easy for people to say but far, far harder to do in practice.
There is no data link between a car and a driving licence. Unless that is sorted then there is no foolproof way to update one from the other. If it was automated and wrong then you'd get plenty of complaints here that the car had been registered to someone else.

DontGiveUp2011 wrote: »

OK so I didn't know that I'm supposed to update the car V5C certificate with the new address when moving house. I knew about the license, and did that.

Do you need to know what else to update? Car insurance, breakdown cover?

bigjl

wongataa wrote: »

A driver does not have to be a registered keeper of a car and if you buy a new car on finance the finance supplier may well be the registered keeper, not the purchaser or driver. so linking a V5C to a driving license is not a good idea.

A calendar with relevant dates filled in would have saved you the hassle.

I think you are confusing Hire Purchase with a Lease or vehicle rented via a Contract Hire Scheme.

I have never bought a vehicle on Finance that has been in the Finance Companies name.

I have bought several ex Lease cars from Auction that were in the Lease Companies name though.

bigjl

DontGiveUp2011 wrote: »

OK so I didn't know that I'm supposed to update the car V5C certificate with the new address when moving house. I knew about the license, and did that.
I found out (actually by downloading the AA app and inputting my car details) that my tax was 5 months out of date!
I've received no letters of renewal etc. When it was a paper disc I always renewed on time because you could see the due date.

So after a few phone calls, and some fines later I'm now up to date with tax etc. and need to send my V5C form off to change address.

I think it's illogical to have the DVLA and tax etc. all under one Gov website but for them to be separate departments so one address change doesn't flag the other!! A simple note on your new drivers license that says 'have you changed your registered vehicle address too?' would have saved me so much blooming hassle!!

A warning for all those out there that may make this same mistake!!

A warning?

For what?

Because you thought your drivers licence was in any way connected to your vehicle V5?

The actual warning should have been how people with so little common sense are driving on the roads today.

arcon5

better check your MOT now as well

stator

jimjames wrote: »

Spot on. Very easy for people to say but far, far harder to do in practice.
There is no data link between a car and a driving licence. Unless that is sorted then there is no foolproof way to update one from the other. If it was automated and wrong then you'd get plenty of complaints here that the car had been registered to someone else.

Do you need to know what else to update? Car insurance, breakdown cover?

Not really difficult to add a box to the change of address form on your driving licence. "If you also want to change the address of your car V5C write the registration number here __________"

agrinnall

stator wrote: »

Not really difficult to add a box to the change of address form on your driving licence. "If you also want to change the address of your car V5C write the registration number here __________"

How many boxes do you suggest that they put on to cater for people who have more than 1 vehicle?