No Continuous Insurance - Court

[Aidancky]

Hi Guys.

Bought a car earlier in the year and kept it off-road on my driveway for repairs, for a few months. Got a letter a while later informing me of a £100 fine for not having continual insurance. I responded with the valid reason (Repairing vehicle), as well as sending them evidence of 3 dates where i'd paid for singular days insurance when I needed it (for MOT and repairs)

Heard nothing back, and now have a Court Summons for not paying the fine... I've never had anything like this before, and now am unsure what kind of costs i'm going to incur, simply for having a car taxed but not insured, off the road.

I have the option to Plead Guilty by post or in court, or Not Guilty at court.

I am guilty of not having continual insurance; am I going to incur court costs for pleading guilty by post? How does it work?
I feel this is harsh and unfair, and comes at a time I really can't afford this sort of fine.

I live in a place where I see cars and bikes with no plates on (and clearly no insurance), yet i'm getting Court Summons for fixing my car off the road?

I dont expect any pity, just wondering what kind of costs its going to have now - It mentions £100 fine on the letter, is this my original fine, or is this in addition to the fine I already had (court costs)?

Thanks.

[Aidancky]

Wow, i'm surprised I didnt get completely roasted by you guys!

Victim surcharge... what the hell? Who's the victim here!
So i'm likely to now pay £185 at least? This seems like such a scam and waste of money. Way to pick on the little guy!

[Aidancky]

Sheepshanks said:

You're not - you're being summonsed for not SORNing the car while it was off the road. I guess it must catch a lot of people who just don't know about CIE.

Just seems crackers... I'd understand completely if it was parked on a public street.

[Aidancky]

Ian Geary said:

I resisted the urge.

But I might make you feel a bit worse by pointing out a SORN was/is free?

I'd get an early guilty plea in.

ps - whilst it's galling that the "system" punishes minor transgressions like this quite heavily, I'm still convinced that people who deliberately operate "outside" of the system have the worse deal overall.




Ian

I'm usually at your side of this. I get what you mean though, I live in Bradford currently and it's probably one of the worst places for people driving with no insurance/MOT/tax etc.

I didn't want to SORN as I was going to be driving imminently, and I did. But by then it was too late.

[Aidancky]

Another question people - on the form it says "If you are found guilty the agency will apply for costs of at least £100"

If I plead guilty, what affects this cost? Who is "the Agency"?

[Aidancky]

A follow up in case someone else is in the same situation:

£100 fine
£30.00 victim surcharge (that's me isn't it?!)
£100 "costs"

What a waste of money