HELP...I have been an absolute motoring dummy

molab

It has just occurred to me that i have a car tax gap in Oct 2017 for 10 months AND that my VC5 is registered to my old address...i tried to remove my psnl no plate online and it said there was an issue with my vehicle license history. Therefore, i must send in paper forms so they can look into this issue to fulfill the plate removal request. I am now terribly concerned I may have a huge fine accumulated or even court / legal matter against my name. 
FYI - driving licence address is up to date. 

Although it is BAFFLING my untaxed car was not flagged by the ANPR units for 10 months...i wonder if somehow i have slipped under the radar here and want advice on what i should do? Potential options below:

1) Do i ring up DVLA & ask why there website said there was an issue in my vehicle licensing history?
- That way i risk bringing the tax gap to their attention which might have never been noticed, but, at least i find out what is on their database without asking and get the verdict on whether i owe a big fine or even court related penalty.  

2) Do I just take the risk & proceed with sending the paper forms to remove my plate (and update my VC5 address) as if i am non the wiser?
- That way I take the chance i will not get found out for the tax gap and it might just be a case of my address not being up-to date which caused the online issue? this could be the case as i find it hard to believe how my car didnt get ANPR radar for 10 months...

DUTR

I can't quickly make head or tale of what you may be asking, so moving onto another thread.

chrisw

Update the V5c to your new address and wait to see what happens. I suspect nothing unless you've collected a load of parking tickets.

Leave the personalised plate on it. It's not worth the bother and who cares anyway.

molab

@chrisw
you know what that is probably the best idea...lightbulb moment. thank you! 

flashg67

A tough lesson to learn but I doubt you'll have thousands in fines waiting, unless you know of any oofences you/your sister have committed? Quickly update the V5c and you'll also get tax reminders then too, but also worth adding the tax / mot due dates to your calendar too
Looks like you've lost the cherished plate though

Mutton_Geoff

DUTR said:

I can't quickly make head or tale of what you may be asking, so moving onto another thread.

I skip all posts that begin "So ..."

molab

@DUTR i can't say i was thrilled to receive your comment but FAIR... lol my post is pretty unclear in retrospect. i would appreciate your help so my attempt to summarize:

1) Do i ring up DVLA & ask why there website said there was an issue in my vehicle licensing history?
- That way i risk bringing the tax gap to their attention which might have never been noticed, but, at least i find out what is on their database without asking and get the verdict on whether i owe a big fine or even court related penalty.  

2) Do I just take the risk & proceed with sending the paper forms to remove my plate (and update my VC5 address) as if i am non the wiser?
- That way I take the chance i will not get found out for the tax gap and it might just be a case of my address not being up-to date which caused the online issue? this could be the case as i find it hard to believe how my car didnt get ANPR radar for 10 months...

molab

@flashg67
thank you so much. v helpful. i have downloaded app for reminders as well as having it glue in my memory / added to outlook. i will NOT be making this mistake again. 

No, neither of us have any offences / points / parking tickets. However, when i was first driving i got my fair few points / fines etc. but as soon as i got to 9 points i realised i need to buck up my ideas and have had 0 points for about five years now and thought i had grown up lol. the irony of that eh! 

i hope they don't hold my history against me in this & punish more harshly if i do get penalized...
as far as i know we did not own the plate anyway (that is what my mum said), it is loaned or something by the DVLA so i thought we wouldn't be able to sell anyway, right?. Would be gutted if that was the case since i am earning next to nothing right now and going to be made redundant i am pretty sure. 

Car_54

molab said:

Although it is BAFFLING my untaxed car was not flagged by the ANPR units for 10 months...i wonder if somehow i have slipped under the radar here and want advice on what i should do? Potential options below:

It's far from baffling. It may have been flagged many times, but any letters will have gone to your old address.

AdrianC

molab said:

It has just occurred to me that i have a car tax gap in Oct 2017 for 10 months AND that my VC5 is registered to my old address...i tried to remove my psnl no plate online and it said there was an issue with my vehicle license history.

So it wasn't taxed or SORNed from Oct 17 to Aug 18... but has been taxed continuously for the 22 months since?
Have you changed the V5C to be correct now? When?
Was your post being forwarded from the old address?

The rules for transferring a plate are clear.
https://www.gov.uk/personalised-vehicle-registration-numbers/take-private-number-off
No breaks in tax/SORN history in the last five years. Your break comes within that.

I am now terribly concerned I may have a huge fine accumulated or even court / legal matter against my name.

It's entirely possible.

It may already be in the court system, since you never responded to any of the letters warning you.
It may already have gone through the court system, with no defence from you, and the penalty left unpaid so multiplying.

Although it is BAFFLING my untaxed car was not flagged by the ANPR units for 10 months...i wonder if somehow i have slipped under the radar here and want advice on what i should do? Potential options below:

1) Do i ring up DVLA & ask why there website said there was an issue in my vehicle licensing history?
- That way i risk bringing the tax gap to their attention which might have never been noticed, but, at least i find out what is on their database without asking and get the verdict on whether i owe a big fine or even court related penalty.

Clue: They know already.

They just couldn't get in contact with you at the car's registered address.
No, the fact your driving licence was changed doesn't make a difference - how do they know it's the "same you"...?

2) Do I just take the risk & proceed with sending the paper forms to remove my plate (and update my VC5 address) as if i am non the wiser?
- That way I take the chance i will not get found out for the tax gap and it might just be a case of my address not being up-to date which caused the online issue? this could be the case as i find it hard to believe how my car didnt get ANPR radar for 10 months...

Just do it. It won't make any difference to the potential penalties for that period, or to the likelihood of the penalties catching up with you.

Playing the innocent "Ooh, I had no idea!" won't help one tiny bit. You should have known, it's your legal responsibility to be aware. If you don't accept that legal responsibility, don't be the registered keeper of a vehicle.