Car Tax run out - clamped and fined.

wssmith

Hi, I wonder if anyone can advise. My daughter bought her first car in Aug 16, she lives in the UK. I went with her to help with the purchase but live in the Isle of Man where our vehicle tax etc is different, so the whole system was confusing to me to be honest. Basically it would seem the garage filled in the paperwork, sent it to the DVLA to register my daughter as the new owner, but the DVLA failed to amend the address correctly. Therefore the reminder for the Car Tax was not sent to my daughters address, as it was still listed as "in Garage". Both myself and my daughter were under the impression the car had been taxed for 12 months at purchase (not sure why but we were). My daughter has just returned from a few days away to find her car clamped and facing a fine. She phoned the DVLA, was informed of the above, and was told the reminder letter is a "Curtesy Letter" only and therefore it is her responsibility to remember when her car tax is due. Obviously she is a first time owner, unaware of the system. I am no help as I am on the Isle of Man, where we still have TAX DISCS as a helpful reminder, but also get reminders in the post. I think this is so unfair when the poor girl genuinely meant no harm. She really can't afford the fee for clamping or the fine and would have gladly paid her car tax had she been aware it was due. The poor girl is utterly devastated, and as she has been unwell for the last 12 months this has really hit her hard at a time when she is just starting to pick herself up. Is there anything that can be done, any route for appeal? Even if we could get some sort of reduction it would be helpful. Can anyone advise? I know at the end of the day we should have known the tax was due, but we honestly thought the car was taxed for the year after purchase! Thanks in advance.

parking_question_chap

Paragraphs?

That wall of text hurts.

wssmith

Was rushing before went out to work. Just got the information down without much thought for anything else!

paddedjohn

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Paragraphs?

That wall of text hurts.

Why not just read the post and give helpful advice instead of criticising the layout?

Iceweasel

I read through all you have to say, and while not wanting to sound unsympathetic, I don't think your daughter has a leg to stand on.

Everywhere in the world that I can think of the simple axiom of 'Ignorance is no excuse.' holds good.

I doubt that I could plead for a reduction or cancellation for any transgression of the rules of the IoM if I moved there and honestly didn't know that things were done differently.

I feel for her/you but think the DVLA won't budge.

Pay up asap before things get worse and the bill gets bigger.

paddedjohn

Op think she will just have to pay up and learn from this, it's the owners responsibility to ensure the car is legal. When she taxes it again get her to set up a direct debit and pay it monthly, this way it auto renews the tax for you.

waamo

You have to tax a car yourself when you purchase it. The dealer does not do it for you.

With this in mind there would have been no reminder. It should have been taxed. From the information you've given she appears to have no defence.

It also says on the paperwork the dealer gives you that if you don't get a V5 in 4 weeks to contact the DVLA and get one with the correct details sent out. She needs to do this if she hasn't already.

wssmith

Thanks for your help everyone. Yes direct debit is the only way forward for sure. The garage did tax the car on her behalf, as she was not allowed to take the car away without it. They also put a curtesy 7 days insurance on it. See have to double check if the V5 came through to her.....she wouldn't know what one was if it hit in the face....she will now though!

Guess I had just hoped the admin error of the DVLA as not registering the vehicle address correctly may have been an opportunity for appeal at least.

Like you said, learn by your mistakes....

Notice the paragraphs

DoaM

parking_question_chap wrote: »

Paragraphs?

That wall of text hurts.

paddedjohn wrote: »

Why not just read the post and give helpful advice instead of criticising the layout?

Because the criticism was valid, and actually helpful. People who write walls of text limit the amount of help they will get.

I can surmise the subject of the OP from the replies, but I haven't actually read it ... and that's because it is a wall of text. (It hurts my eyes to try and read such text). There are many others who will also skip past OPs which are walls of text, thus preventing possibly vital help being received.

wssmith

Hi DoaM thank you for your reply. As I said I took note of what you said, thats why I made the light hearted comment about it. I have only posted on this forum once I believe and that was in 2009, therefore I am unaware of the etiquette, thank you so much for your comments though.

neilmcl

paddedjohn wrote: »

Why not just read the post and give helpful advice instead of criticising the layout?

Because he makes a very good point. It IS difficult to read the way it it's currently laid out.