Does the DVLA auto fine for no tax?

[Dan_1981]

Slight problem.....

Tax expires at midnight.

Just been online to tax it and the DVLA system has no record of a passed MOT.

MOT was passed on the 5th of this month - so either the system has recorded it properly or the MOT place hasn't done something.

Question: Do the DVLA automatically issue a fine tonight if I don't either tax or SORN the vehicle?

What is the best course of action - SORN car online tonight and then sort the issue, or leave it until I can speak to someone at both the test centre or the DVLA tomorrow?

Ta

[ryanjohnstott]

Can you not simply tax it at the post office in the morning?

I never tax my cars on time!

[Harding91]

Post office in the morning is best bet.

I waited 20 days to retax a car a few months back as had to wait until i was paid, i wasn't fined.

[jimbob82]

you have about 10 days to tax it IIRC, I renew the tax on my mates car every six months for him and it's always a week late, he's never been fined...

[TheEnd]

It's not that quick, I'm not sure if there is an official timescale, but I'm sure people have gone a few weeks before any letters arrive.

[aw51 121565]

The middle of the second month after the last tax disc expired, ie after around six and a half weeks, is when cars will be picked up on "the run" as not taxed or SORNed.

[GC8]

To confirm the above, I had a one month gap last Summer without incident.

[smartphone hater]

Dan_1981 said:

Slight problem.....

Tax expires at midnight.

Just been online to tax it and the DVLA system has no record of a passed MOT.

MOT was passed on the 5th of this month - so either the system has recorded it properly or the MOT place hasn't done something.

Question: Do the DVLA automatically issue a fine tonight if I don't either tax or SORN the vehicle?

What is the best course of action - SORN car online tonight and then sort the issue, or leave it until I can speak to someone at both the test centre or the DVLA tomorrow?

Ta

No they will not automatically issue a fine the second your tax expires. You'll have at least a couple of weeks before anything will happen, so enough time to sort the mot issue out.

[smartphone hater]

GC8 said:

To confirm the above, I had a one month gap last Summer without incident.

There doesn't seem to be a set pattern or time with this. I got a letter after two weeks.

Edited. I should say the letter was a reminder & not a penalty.

Edited by smartphone hater on Friday 1st March 10:47

[GC8]

Bummer.

[TangerinePool]

They send a 'Last Chance!' letter I believe between a fortnight to a month after the due date.

It's weird how it works.

[Deva Link]

Dan_1981 said:

What is the best course of action - SORN car online tonight and then sort the issue, or leave it until I can speak to someone at both the test centre or the DVLA tomorrow?

If you've got the Certificate then just tax it at a post office.

[Dan_1981]

Thanks guys.

Spoke to the test place today.

He remembered the car, remembered retesting it after it failed earlier in the day.... but it appears didn't remember to press the "passed" button.

In effect i've spent the last month driving around without an MOT.

Sorted now, and taxed.