DVLA/VIC Shenanigans

[garycox]

There's probably 8573 other threads this could go in, but I can't be bothered to find one, soz.

 

A warning...

 

When I bought my 205 Auto (In April, MOTd til September) I filled in the V5, took home the green slip and taxed it online, by DD, using that reference. I have an email confirmation for this.

 

A couple of weeks later I received a letter from the DVLA to say that the car had previously been notified as 'accident damaged' by insurers. I was now the registered keeper but they would not issue a V5 or tax/SORN reminder until it'd had a Vehicle Identity Check. When that's been done they'll issue a V5 that says it's been substantially repaired.

 

On the back it says that if I sell it I need to write to them, other wise I could receive a penalty for late taxing.

 

That's the entire content (paraphrased, obvs). So from that I gather that they're not saying I can't use it or there are any issues with taxing it, but I won't be able to tax it again until after the VIC. Which doesn't matter as the MOT's before then and after that I have time to assess whether to bother before the tax is due again.

 

In the meantime it broke and I offered it on here at ever decreasing prices. In the end somebody agreed to have it, but mentioned that it was showing online as 'Untaxed since 01 April 2015'.

 

This was quite worrying as I'd driven all over the place in it, about 1500 miles in that time between Brighton and Yorkshire, with it mainly parked on the road.

 

I double checked that I had the email tax confirmation from 06 April and gave them a ring. The guy on the phone claimed that after I taxed it on 06 April I SORNed it on the 23rd (which I clearly hadn't) ("Might you have SORNed it and forgotten?" WHAT?!). When asked why it wasn't showing as SORNed then, he hadn't a clue. 

 

So either somebody has SORNed my car without my knowledge ("How could that even happen?!" "Well it must have been online or by post Sir" Twat.) or they have fucked up somewhere, or it is some hidden thing to do with the VIC that they don't actually tell you about.

 

His solution was to 'request that it's corrected to SORN' (which hasn't been done over a week later) and he didn't seem to want to discuss WHY and HOW it was not taxed in the first place. Just told me I could tax it if I filled in 2 forms and took them to the Post Office.

 

At this I despaired and hung up.

 

Summary: 06/04 taxed, 21/04 date of VIC letter, 23/04 mysteriously untaxed (although SORNed according to DVLA phone idiot)

 

It must be related surely, but it's not mentioned in the letter and phone man didn't make any connection between the VIC and the tax situation whatsoever (he was aware of the VIC requirement but only mentioned it in 'conversation')

 

I've been driving around in an untaxted car, unaware, and until last night it was still being kept on the road. 

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience? What do I do now? It's sort of resolved itself as the car's now permanently off the road but surely they can't be allowed to withdraw tax with no notification?

On the plus side I have saved over £100 on tax I suppose... I expect they'll try to get that somehow.

[MrDuke]

surely (DVLA) can't be allowed to withdraw tax with no notification?

That's a bit like saying "surely Kim Jong-Un can't be allowed to eliminate citizens without notification?"

 

While they are, by and large, OK at doing stuff and manage to handle the vast majority of tasks satisfactorily, they are unfortunately an un-regulated government department whose word on all matters is final, regardless of whether it's the right word or not. Just count yourself very lucky that you weren't flagged or pulled in the 'taxless' period.

 

This is the same department, remember, who revoked several people's driving licenses for absolutely no reason and refused to accept that they had ever owned a full licence in the first place, even when presented with copies (not a myth, I knew one of the victims).

[HH-R]

While they are, by and large, OK at doing stuff and manage to handle the vast majority of tasks satisfactorily

 

Oh how we roared!

 

I'm only jesting, of course. I think.