Cannot Tax my car V5C number not recognised

FlatFour

Hi All,

I'm having issues trying to tax my car.

It has been SORN'd over the winter months, which is normal, this is a second car I only usually drive in the warmer months.  As usual, I have to use the V5C reference number to tax it again as the V11 reminder expires.  I've done this many many times.

Trying to do this on Saturday, April 1st, the Tax website was flaky, slow and often crapping out entirely.  When I finally did get to the bit to enter my Reg No and the eleven digit V5C reference, it said it could not find it.  I put it down to the website still having problems.

I tried again Sunday and the website was nice and responsive but, once again, it failed to find my car's details.  I tried a number of times throughout the day, each time a failure.

I tried again today (Monday) and the number is still not recognised.  I tried using their phone service, but it's automated and just asks for the same eleven digit number, which isn't recognised there either.  I tried to speak to a person (different number) but the automated message just says "we're too busy, try later".  So, basically, I'm stuck unable to tax my car.  Next step will be going to the Post Office, but won't they just check the same eleven digit number on their system and say no?

As a sanity check, I looked up my car via the Reg No alone, and can see all the correct details, along with it being marked as SORN'd currently and that I have the latest logbook (issue dates match) so I know I'm all up to date an correct.  However, if I use any service that requires that eleven digit V5C number, it's rejected.

I suspect it's simply an error on their part and they've not fixed it yet - perhaps explaining why they're too busy to speak to anyone - but it's still a pain.

If this were my main vehicle I'd be totally stuck today, unable to get anywhere.  Does anyone have any advice for me?  Is anyone else perhaps experiencing this issue?

molerat

All I can think of is a 0 and O mix up by you ?

FlatFour

molerat said:

All I can think of is a 0 and O mix up by you ?

Fair suggestion, but no, the details I'm entering are 100% correct.  Chatting with others (a Car-related forum) several have had the same issue when attempting to Tax their vehicles using the V5C reference number over the past couple of days.  Strongly suggests the issue is their side.

I do this process typically every year when I tax the vehicle after it's been SORN'd for six months.  This is the first time I've run into this issue.

To be clear, regular car look-ups using Registration No. work fine.  Anything involving the V5C Reference fail.  I will try again later this eve.

Edit: Old article, but I found information stating that Capita DO handle data for the DVLA.  I don't know if that's still the case or not, however, it might explain the website issues if true.

FlatFour

Website still having issues.  Slow to respond initially, then crashes.  Not even got to the point of entering any details.

Seems I'm far from alone with the main issue of my V5C reference number not being recognised.  Hope they fix this soon, that's four days wasted unable to drive the car so far - days I will still be charged for if/when they eventually fix this.

sheramber

I can access the site as normal. I haven't tried to complete V5C number but up to that point no problem accessing the website.

iainscomputer

Have you thought about going to the Post Office & letting them try to taxit, this option is still available as not everyone has internet access.

jimjames

FlatFour said:

Website still having issues.  Slow to respond initially, then crashes.  Not even got to the point of entering any details..

Thought I'd just test this for you. Tried for my currently untaxed car using reg and V5C, enter both and it does correctly bring up the details. There were problems with Virgin Media earlier this week which affected a lot of corporates too, with the issues you describe it's possible the connections internally were timing out so might be worth trying again.

facade

I just taxed mine.

When I used Firefox, the page crashed with an error message about it being insecure and a certificate error.

Chrome worked, and showed a little padlock, but the page doesn't start https.....

Ah well, hopefully the VPN is working....

I was massively annoyed when after laboriously entering my card details it was rejected, because I selected VISA (as on my card in big letters) rather than VISA debit  (the debit being elsewhere on my card in small type)

Clearly the portal matches the number to the type to be able to reject it, so why did I even need to select the type in the first place?

I was so annoyed I suggested removing the selection in the feedback.