Car tax fine - even when i paid on the day of receiving a final reminder

ronniesnakes

I am currently in dispute with the DVLA over a £195 fine i received because my vehicle was photographed without tax.

I am disputing it on the following grounds:

I did not receive a vehicle tax reminder and therefore was unaware that I had to renew my tax. (Apparently the DVLA are not obliged to send a reminder)

The only notification I did receive, was a final reminder to SORN or tax my vehicle, I received this and upon receipt of the final reminder, I paid my vehicle tax on the same day.

I received the final reminder 4 days after the photograph was taken of my vehicle being driven un-taxed. So basically, the DVLA have received notification that my vehicle was un-taxed, sent me a final reminder which i paid on the same day as receiving it and then they subsequently issued the fine!!

I think this is extremely unfair and i have written two letters in dispute of the fine but the DVLA will not budge.

I will get some advice from the Citizens Advice and i was considering going to court over this.

Any advice from fellow forum users would be appreciated please.

Cheers
Ronnie

facade

How long was it without tax?

The fine is for driving an untaxed vehicle.
The tax is due anyway.

NigeWick

ronniesnakes wrote: »

I am currently in dispute with the DVLA over a £195 fine i received because my vehicle was photographed without tax.

If your vehicle was on a road without a current vehicle excise licence the offence is complete. You know when it runs out, or should do, and have six months or a year to prepare for renewing it from the last time you sorted it out. I believe you should take responsibility for your (in)action.

ronniesnakes

I am not disputing the fact that my car was driven un-taxed. What is the point of sending a final reminder and for me to pay the tax and for the DVLA to issue the fine anyway?


This fine smacks of a money generation on the DVLA's part.

neilmcl

ronniesnakes wrote: »

I am currently in dispute with the DVLA over a £195 fine i received because my vehicle was photographed without tax.

I am disputing it on the following grounds:

I did not receive a vehicle tax reminder and therefore was unaware that I had to renew my tax. (Apparently the DVLA are not obliged to send a reminder)

The only notification I did receive, was a final reminder to SORN or tax my vehicle, I received this and upon receipt of the final reminder, I paid my vehicle tax on the same day.

I received the final reminder 4 days after the photograph was taken of my vehicle being driven un-taxed. So basically, the DVLA have received notification that my vehicle was un-taxed, sent me a final reminder which i paid on the same day as receiving it and then they subsequently issued the fine!!

I think this is extremely unfair and i have written two letters in dispute of the fine but the DVLA will not budge.

I will get some advice from the Citizens Advice and i was considering going to court over this.

Any advice from fellow forum users would be appreciated please.

Cheers
Ronnie

You can "dispute" all you like but your points are groundless. As you full well know the DVLA have no obligation to remind you that your tax is due, that's your responsibility. Also, you seem to be under the impressions that there's somehow a single person dealing solely with your details, issuing fines and sending out reminders. You drove whilst not taxed, caught and therefore issued with a fine, as above the offence is complete. You were then sent a reminder to get your taxed or sorned, the latter has no impact on the former.

dannyrst

You drove without tax and were caught. That is the offence you would be going to court over.


It would be ridiculous to go to court and say "Yes, I was caught, but the reminder came out after I was caught". That is a compeltely seperate issue that you should take up with the DVLA. It doesn't change the fact you drove without tax, which is why you would be going to court.

soolin

As above really, the fine is for not taxing your vehicle so if you go to court can you prove that statement to be wrong? As you admit to not taxing the vehicle then I can't see what proof you can give to persuade the court that the fine does not apply.

There is no requirement to remind you to pay the tax, unfortunately this does catch out quite a few people as we don't even have the paper disc to remind us now, my own son lapsed his tax by a matter of days, paid as soon as he realised and got fined - but accepted the fine was due as it was his own fault he had not set up any diary reminders to pay. Going to court with no defence could cost you in court fees and end up with you still paying the fine.

ronniesnakes

Thanks for your replies so far, it looks like I'm stuffed!!


Still don't see why they issued a final reminder to me though? Pointless! Perhaps they could generate money by not sending final reminders to people who they will fine anyway, regardless if they pay their tax!

ronniesnakes

Slightly aggrieved that I didn't get an initial reminder, first time in over 20 years of motoring.

trinidadone

So, from what I am reading, you did not get the reminder for your car tax. You received a reminder, paid the same day, and then issued with a Penalty Charge Notice?

You believe its unfair you received this charge from the DVLA as you paid promptly once receiving the reminder. I would be grieved if it were me, yes the others on this thread have banged on about taking responsibility, you should know when the tax is due, blar blar blar, but it does smell of generating money making. I could understand if the DVLA gave you a further few weeks to pay this, and then issue a penalty, but to slap a penalty charge anyway, its like you said, whats the point of sending out a final reminder, you might as well get the fine only!! what about their complaints policy? also, have you paid the fine?

neilmcl

ronniesnakes wrote: »

Still don't see why they issued a final reminder to me though? Pointless!

Not really, I'm sure there are those who will continue to drive without tax even after receiving a fine. The reminder is imply there to give you the available options open to you, ie, tax or SORN.