Points on license- bizarre situation.

subbysmith

I was in a car crash in November 2020. Not at fault and other side paid up. I had a hire car from the 25th nov- 5th Dec from a well known hire car company with Star Trek links.

When it came to renewing my insurance this month (I'm named driver, wife is main driver) they said they couldn't insure me. When she called up to cancel, they said that I have something on my license that hasn't been declared. So I go on to check.

I discover, to my surprise, 6 points on my license and a £120 fine for driving without insurance on the 29th November. (A day i didn't even drive the hire car!) I am absolutely godsmacked as I received no letters about this, I have paid no fine, my driving license has not been requested to put the points on it, no one is chasing me about it. As far as I was concerned I did have insurance through the hire company.

I've tried calling DVLA, but they are too busy to speak to me (email sent), I tried calling hire car company, and they have me an email address to contact which I have, and I have spoken to my former insurance provider, who know nothing about this.

Has anyone heard of a situation like this before? Am I likely to get the points removed from my license? 

TadleyBaggie

You will need to find out which magistrates court imposed the sentence and then perform a statutory declaration. This will reset the case back to the court process. Once you have the court documents, you will need to figure out a defence to the charge.

subbysmith

Would I get that from the DVLA?

TadleyBaggie

Hopefully. You might get better advice over at the forums at http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?

ontheroad1970

That's odd as  the normal starting point fine for that is much higher than £120 - fixed penalty is for example £300.

subbysmith

The whole thing is odd. Why did no one contact me? My address hasn't changed, no court summons, the fine has not been paid by me (I suppose it could have been paid by the hire company), no one is chasing me for the money. My wife was named on the insurance but she has no fines or points on her license. It's just so bizarre!

daveyjp

No insurance requires a police stop, most remember it!

May be worth a call to the police and see what records they have.

DB1904

daveyjp said:

No insurance requires a police stop, most remember it!

May be worth a call to the police and see what records they have.

Under what law?

Most convictions come from a stop or accident but I'd welcome your opinion on why a stop must happen. 

subbysmith

There was no stop. I didn't drive the car until the 30th. I will look into it further if I can ever get a response from the DVLA.

Flight3287462

So at the time of the alleged offence you were driving the hire car?  Or were the points given for the date of the accident? Did the police attend.

Your OP goes back Nov 2020, so your insurance would have been renewed at least once in the intervening period.

So what is the accurate time line (to the best of your knowledge).

I'm just struggling to fit the whole picture together.

ontheroad1970

It could be something that is meant for someone else being applied to your licence in error.  The £120 fine is way way way too low, and could only possibly have been applied by a court with someone present, as the minimum starting point fine would be way above this, as the fine is unlimited in court, and the fixed penalty is £300 so they would fine more than this in an unattended hearing.