Road tax *double* fine?!?!

Andrea15

I know, we have been stupid, but still...

There was a !!!!!! up, so we didn't tax the car. We thought we had, but we hadn't. Some weeks ago we duly got a fine for not taxing the car (£40+£1.67 for the month it wasn't taxed) which was paid there and then, along with the £20 road tax for the year.
Subsequently we received *another fine*, for £35, because someone spotted that the car was not taxed.
How can we possibly be fined twice for the same offence?

Woodstok2000

You can't be fined twice for the same offence - but this doesn't seem like it's the same offence.  Check both fines very carefully, one will be for having an untaxed vehicle and no SORN, the other will be for using an untaxed vehicle on the road (this applies even if it's just parked on the road, you don't have to drive it).

If both fines are for the same offence then you can appeal the second fine with all the evidence that you have already paid a fine and taxed the car, it will be rescinded.

Andrea15

Yes, but isn't that the same offence? They know we forgot to tax the car, so now they are giving me an extra fine for spotting an untaxed car they had already informed me it was... untaxed?

Woodstok2000

Andrea15 said:

Yes, but isn't that the same offence? They know we forgot to tax the car, so now they are giving me an extra fine for spotting an untaxed car they had already informed me it was... untaxed?

No, different offences - the second offence is about the location of the car.

Offence 1: Having a vehicle which is untaxed and not declared SORN.
Offence 2: Using a vehicle on the road without valid tax.

You can commit offence 1 and not offence 2 (e.g. your car is untaxed but on private land).
You can commit offence 2 and not offence 1 (e.g. you declare your car SORN, but then park on the road).

In this case it seems you have committed both offences and so have 2 fines to pay.

Andrea15

:'(  

photome

£95 is still cheap for a year 😮

facade

If a SORN'd car is spotted on the road the penalty is larger as they sting you for twice the outstanding tax, which they count from the day the SORN came into force, so it can be years if you SORN'd back then.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-enforcement-policy/dvla-enforcement-of-vehicle-tax-registration-and-insurance-offences

(SORN started in 1998, but you had to renew it every year, I can't find out when it became indefinite as AI keeps forcing wrong answers on me, suggesting 2024, and I know it was years before that)

Andrea15

photome said:

£95 is still cheap for a year 😮

  

facade

photome said:

£95 is still cheap for a year 😮

Not compared to the £20 it should be

glennevis

facade said:

If a SORN'd car is spotted on the road the penalty is larger as they sting you for twice the outstanding tax, which they count from the day the SORN came into force, so it can be years if you SORN'd back then.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-enforcement-policy/dvla-enforcement-of-vehicle-tax-registration-and-insurance-offences

(SORN started in 1998, but you had to renew it every year, I can't find out when it became indefinite as AI keeps forcing wrong answers on me, suggesting 2024, and I know it was years before that)

Just ask someone with a classic vehicle project.

Annual renewals probably ended 24 February 2014 when tax discs were abolished (DVLA document is still online).

My last SORN notification email that explicitly states 12 months was in November 2013.

facade

glennevis said:

facade said:

If a SORN'd car is spotted on the road the penalty is larger as they sting you for twice the outstanding tax, which they count from the day the SORN came into force, so it can be years if you SORN'd back then.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vehicle-enforcement-policy/dvla-enforcement-of-vehicle-tax-registration-and-insurance-offences

(SORN started in 1998, but you had to renew it every year, I can't find out when it became indefinite as AI keeps forcing wrong answers on me, suggesting 2024, and I know it was years before that)

Just ask someone with a classic vehicle project.

Annual renewals probably ended 24 February 2014 when tax discs were abolished (DVLA document is still online).

My last SORN notification email that explicitly states 12 months was in November 2013.

Thanks.

So prior to 2014, your maximum "fine" would be a few months since the last SORN was declared or became due, now it can be over 10 years worth if you declared SORN back in 2014- another winner for HMG!