DVLA & Clamping Advice please

adilmiah1304

Hello

I just wanted some advice please

I got a car which broke down on the way to my home so we parked it just opposite my home. I know it is my fault I didn't tax it straight away. /this was my first car after passing and I am still learning everything that needs doing. (So please don't bash me for this mistake of mines)

Ok so while I was waiting for the skip to be removed from my front garden, my car got clamped so I paid them and pushed the car to another neighbours front garden for the time being. 

Now DVLA saying /i need to pay them on top £200+. Was the clamping people not part of DVLA? 

I admit it was my fault for not doing it straight away but I paid the clamping from all my savings (I am 18)  and now another fee I need to pay. Is that right?

Car_54

It depends what you mean by 'right'! It's certainly legal. The £200+ is a fine for not taxing the car, payable whether it was clamped or not. If it's clamped, you need to pay to have it released.

adilmiah1304

Car_54 said:

It depends what you mean by 'right'! It's certainly legal. The £200+ is a fine for not taxing the car, payable whether it was clamped or not. If it's clamped, you need to pay to have it released.

Thanks, I assumed clamping company and dvla are same company? So dvla don't clamp vehicles?

Jenni_D

No - they sub-contract that activity to a company to do the clamping on their behalf.

Think of it as like your car being impounded by the police. You have to pay a release fee to get your car back from the pound as well as any fine that was applied (i.e. the reason for the car being impounded in the first place). In your case the Clamp = the Pound.  

adilmiah1304

Jenni_D said:

No - they sub-contract that activity to a company to do the clamping on their behalf.

Think of it as like your car being impounded by the police. You have to pay a release fee to get your car back from the pound as well as any fine that was applied (i.e. the reason for the car being impounded in the first place). In your case the Clamp = the Pound.  

thank you, that makes sense. an expensive lesson learnt with my forever  bad luck

adilmiah1304

Ignorance? Where and why is it ignorance? Are you seriously comparing an 18 year old knowledge to someone who has been driving for longer and has more knowledge? ..SMH....even the most learned drivers end up asking for advice so that shows ignorance on your part not mines.  @DB1904

Jenni_D

The point being made is that lack of awareness (aka "ignorance" - they're not calling you "ignorant") is no defence (in law). The offence is committed whether you were aware it was an offence or not - so it's not "bad luck", although I know what you're meaning ... "Just my luck for the car to be spotted during that short period".  

Jenni_D

[Quoted post removed by Forum Team]

You've just perfectly illustrated the point the OP made in their post immediately preceding yours.

There are ways and means of getting across a point without it becoming an insult ... and I'll state right now that anyone who says they weren't being insulting by calling the OP ignorant is using a terminological inexactitude.  

onashoestring

@adilmiah1304 this is a money saving forum so the experienced posters on here are sharing advice that will save you money in the long run.

Not paying car tax may have seemed like a money saving idea at the time.  However as you have unfortunately found out , being caught for parking an untaxed car on a public road it has cost you a lot more .

As a new driver (whatever your age ) it’s important that you familiarise yourself with all the laws around owning and driving a car . This is so that you don’t get caught out with any more fines in the future.

You can find them online here :

https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders

Jenni_D

Jenni_D said:

There are ways and means of getting across a point without it becoming an insult

And this post perfectly proves my point

onashoestring said:

@adilmiah1304 this is a money saving forum so the experienced posters on here are sharing advice that will save you money in the long run.

Not paying car tax may have seemed like a money saving idea at the time, however as you have unfortunately found out , on this occasion it has cost you a lot more .

As a new driver,  (whatever your age ) it’s important that you familiarise yourself with all the laws around owning and driving a car so that you don’t get caught out with any more fines in the future.You  can find them online here :

https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders

facade

adilmiah1304 said:

Now DVLA saying /i need to pay them on top £200+. Was the clamping people not part of DVLA? 

I admit it was my fault for not doing it straight away but I paid the clamping from all my savings (I am 18)  and now another fee I need to pay. Is that right?

Jumping back to the question, what is the £200 for?

The DVLA normally offer an "Out of Court Settlement" (OCS) which is £30 plus 1.5 times the unpaid tax. The alternative is go to court and face a £1000 fine.

If you only bought it on the day, there can only be 1 month's outstanding tax, which can't come to £170.