Bought car, DVLA shows it taxed still from previous keeper

AdrianC

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Well lets just say I was too trusting of the seller who turns out to be a 'not very nice' person. I had a copy of V5C2 but the doc number is invalid so I can't use it.

Because it's an old one.

Nevertheless DVLA have received a V62 from the seller and have written to me twice; once to get the VIN number and another time to say they will deal with it?? Still waiting for them to deal with it and unsure if its safe to use the car or not tax-wise.

They're checking with the person they have as the registered keeper, to make sure they know about the transfer and are happy with it. It will take a while.

EdGasketTheSecond

Rover_Driver wrote: »

That is the .gov website (not the DVLA), it only gives general advice, often, as in this case, not that accurate and should never be relied on without reference to the relevant legislation. Any current tax status will not change until the DVLA process the change of keeper.
As you have found, only the registered keeper or new keeper with a valid V5C/2 can apply for tax, the owner is irrelevant.

OK so if I drive the car around, as the registered keeper (not me yet) has it taxed, ANPR, the police, and the world at large will be OK with it?


BTW both times DVLA have written to me they say I must tax it before I use it on the road, even though in practice I can't do that as I don't have the relevant docs which they should know as the V62 is being processed (I hope).

Rover_Driver

As the DVLA are aware of your circumstances, there may be a problem in respect of the tax status, although the car is still showing as taxed on their website.
Possibly the reason for their tax advice is a warning that you will have to wait for them to complete their enquiries and registered keeper transfer to be completed before you can tax it and use it on the road.

EdGasketTheSecond

Yes I guess it would be a risk but a £40 fine wouldn't be too bad if it happened. I guess a lot worse would be something like getting clamped or pulled over by plod. It's a pain waiting for DVLA. Next time I'll be more vigilant over what paperwork I get!
Thanks for all the replies.

seatbeltnoob

check check the tax status every day before you drive, i would drive it, free tax, the previous owner has a vested interest to do whether you drive it or not, it's the same. DVLA send ANPR cars around residental areas into laybys etc to check cars on the road. DVLAs do swoops every so often near my place in London.

So if you're thinking that you could avoid a penalty by not driving it, you're wrong. You have a good strong alibi for not taxing it yourself, just drive it.

The computer will have it marked as taxed anyway so you're safe.

sheramber

Your insurance will ask who is the registered keeper.

EdGasketTheSecond

sheramber wrote: »

Your insurance will ask who is the registered keeper.

Well all I can say is that it should be me but I haven't received the v5c yet and see what they say.

Car_54

sheramber wrote: »

Your insurance will ask who is the registered keeper.

Actually, many (if not all) of them ask "who will be" the RK. Otherwise it would be difficult to insure a car you're about to buy.