Car Tax - Late Payment Fine?

Queenforaday

Hello
Looking for some advice please from anyone else who may have been slightly late in paying their car tax...

Due to having a family bereavement and going to the funeral this weekend, I completely forgot to pay our car tax - it was due on the 31st Oct and I paid it online yesterday, so 3 days late...
Obviously I wouldn't normally be so forgetful, but now I am panicking and worried we'll be receiving a fine from the DVLA 
When I was on the gov.uk website making payment for the car tax there wasn't any information about fines if paying late, it just said the amount of tax was due now. I am reluctant to call the DVLA and draw attention to my error in case they then slap a fine on me once they are made aware of it.
We didn't drive the car off our driveway, except for my husband going to one shop in our local town, so he was maybe on the road for all of 10mins. I know (and I feel terrible for forgetting to pay the road tax on time) that he wouldn't have had valid insurance for that journey, thank goodness nothing happened while he was out.
Has anyone else been only a few days late in paying their car tax and then received a fine - or maybe gotten away with it? Would be great to hear your experiences please.
Thanks

Car_54

Stop panicking, it's very unlikely anything will happen.

And your insurance wouldn't have been invalid.

Queenforaday

Thanks, I do hope that it's unlikely! I remember in the past there was talk of a grace period but I thought that all went out the window now we don't have physical tax discs. Will keep my fingers crossed!

AdrianC

There never was a "grace period".

Another vote here for "you'll be fine, stop worrying".

facade

Don't worry about it, you paid for October, now you've paid for November which covers from the 1st, they aren't going to worry about a couple of days late.

If you'd paid by cheque on the 31st, it probably wouldn't have cleared yet anyway.

The fines are for people trying to get out of paying (or doing the admin if the car is zero tax) altogether.

Next time, pay it as soon as you get the reminder- I have to, or I'd just forget all about it.

The Police roadside purges usually start after the first week, so they don't have a flood of people arguing that the payment is in the post.

AdrianC

facade said:

Next time, pay it as soon as you get the reminder- I have to, or I'd just forget all about it.

Or just do it on DD, annually or monthly.

Nobbie1967

I remember I was late paying one year by a few days and when I payed it flashed up a warning that I had broken the law and there could be follow up action etc, but nothing ever happened. Hopefully you’ll be ok.

Queenforaday

Thanks everyone, you've set my mind at ease! Much appreciated.

Widge2637

Forgot mine, realised after three months, I’d changed my licence but not the V5 which I’m kicking myself about as I did it online and it literally reminds you on the same page!
Logged on first thing and paid tax which then showed it being taxed for next 12 months, weirdly it was showing SORN, changed the V5 straight after then rung DVLA. Paid £47 for the three months then an £80 fine, a lot less than I’d catastrophised about! Assured case is now closed and all sorted.