What exactly happens if there's no tax, insurance, or MOT on a vehicle?

Conrad3000

Hi all.

Does the registered keeper get any letters or visits from the police?

Because there's a car in my area with no MOT for a few weeks now.

Presumably they've not had any contact from the relevant authorities including the DVLA?

Thanks.

HonestJohn

You can report abandoned vehicles on fixmystreet.com

Conrad3000

HonestJohn said:

You can report abandoned vehicles on fixmystreet.com

Yes, but you'd think with everything stored on databases these days, it'd be quite easy for the Police to pay a little visit to the keeper.

TooManyPoints

Yes, but you'd think with everything stored on databases these days, it'd be quite easy for the Police to pay a little visit to the keeper.

Do you think the police would pay a visit to the RK for no MoT?

marlot

No MOT is regarded as a minor offence.  Even if you're caught driving, it's a fine but no points.

(the more serious offence is driving with a vehicle in dangerous condition, which rightly can come with points).

Aretnap

If the vehicle is not taxed, or not insured, then the RK must complete a SORN declaration. That's not something the police are going to turn up on your doorstep over either, but the DVLA will send you a reminder letter, and if you still don't sort it out, a fixed penalty through the post. 

There's no equivalent process for MOT, and simply having a car whose MOT has expired is not in any way illegal. If the police actually catch you driving it they might give you a £100 fixed penalty, or they might just tell you to get it MOTed asap depending on your attitude and how long it has been out of MOT for. (In theory it's also illegal to park it on the road without an MOT, but in terms of police priorities that one ranks slightly below arresting people for being drunk in pubs, which is also illegal.)

As above if you think the car has been abandoned then you can report it to the council, but the council will want more evidence if abandonment than an overdue MOT before they tow it away. Is it also untaxed, or in seriously bad condition, or not been moved for weeks and weeks? 

paul_c123

DVLA can and do clamp untaxed vehicles but I don't know if they actively search for them or just rely on reports.

Serious question to OP: how does this affect your day-to-day life?

Conrad3000

paul_c123 said:

DVLA can and do clamp untaxed vehicles but I don't know if they actively search for them or just rely on reports.

Serious question to OP: how does this affect your day-to-day life?

Surely the DVLA have everything stored on their systems and a vehicle without an MOT would automatically be flagged?

And the car in question is taking up valuable space in the street. It's taxed and insured but no MOT. It's been parked up for about 2 months now.

molerat

It's taxed and insured but no MOT.  It's been parked up for about 2 months now.

So at the minor end of the infringement scale.  No one is going to do anything about it unless it is picked up actually moving.

Barkin

Conrad3000 said:

paul_c123 said:

DVLA can and do clamp untaxed vehicles but I don't know if they actively search for them or just rely on reports.

Serious question to OP: how does this affect your day-to-day life?

Surely the DVLA have everything stored on their systems and a vehicle without an MOT would automatically be flagged?

Why would it be?

Not having a valid MOT test isn't, in itself, an offence.

eschaton

Conrad3000 said:

paul_c123 said:

DVLA can and do clamp untaxed vehicles but I don't know if they actively search for them or just rely on reports.

Serious question to OP: how does this affect your day-to-day life?

Surely the DVLA have everything stored on their systems and a vehicle without an MOT would automatically be flagged?

And the car in question is taking up valuable space in the street. It's taxed and insured but no MOT. It's been parked up for about 2 months now.

If it’s taxed and insured then it has as much right as any other car to be parked on the street. 

It would be an issue if it was being driven but it’s not.