charged with the criminal offence of an unlicensed car- what actually does this mean?

lulubelle12

I have been charged with 'unlicensed keeping or using of a motor vehicle'. I am embarrassed to admit that I don't actually understand what this is. I have a driving licence but don't understand what exactly a car licence is. Whatever it is it relates to Ithe family car that I was using to drive the children while my divorce was going through court. My ex-husband always organised the tax, insurance, MOT etc. I didn't know that he had stopped paying these until the car broke down and the temporary car hire asked to see my car insurance at which point I realised there was no car insurance. The actual divorce consent order came on the 28th March of this year at which point the car officially became mine. I sold it in the Summer and bought a cheaper car. Was there anything else official I should have done when selling the car that I have missed? many thanks, Belle

HampshireH

Sounds like you have been caught driving/keepinga car without road tax. There must be more in the letter does it reference a date when it was in your possession

Hoenir

"An unlicensed vehicle is one that does not have a valid vehicle license or trade license. Using or keeping an unlicensed vehicle is an offense, and the penalty can include an excise penalty of level 3 or five times the vehicle excise duty. "

Lack of Insurance and MOT are additional matters that are likely going to have to be addressed. 

elsien

Is it possible that your ex could have SORNd the car without telling you?

Stands for statutory off-road notification and basically means that he had informed the DVLA that it wasn’t taxed and insured and would be kept off road without being used. 

lulubelle12

Thank you All. 

How do you get a vehicle licence? 

The letter says 'on 20/04/2024 you were the keeper of an unlicensed vehicle... The previous licence expired on 14/03/2024 and the annual rate of duty was £590.00'

While of course I should have been more on the ball and will be from now on at the time I was driving the car without any access to the paperwork.

Ex could well have told DVLA anything.

theoretica

See here - vehicle tax - https://www.gov.uk/legal-obligations-drivers-riders

lulubelle12

Thank you. My fault then as the tax had expired. I didn't have access to car paperwork but that doesn't get away from the fact it is my responsibility.

Altior

Was there anything else official I should have done when selling the car that I have missed? 

Yes, you need to have notified the DVLA. This is usually done via the V5 (still colloquially known as the log book). If this was an experienced individual or business you sold the vehicle to, I would have expected them to ask for the log book, and completed their element. 

It's definitely in your interest to ensure this has definitely been done, otherwise you risk being chased up for fines/penalties racked up by the new owner. 

You can read about it/notify the DVLA here 

Nellymoser

The person you sold the car to should have road taxed it from that day. You would only be due the road tax on that car from 14/3/24 until the month you sold it...not a full year so don't go paying the £590 annual rate. Might be easier to phone dept who sent the letter to get it sorted. 

lulubelle12

Thank you very much. Will sort it now.