Had an accident and my car isn't taxed
Discussion
It's fair to say I'm absolutely bricking it right now.
This morning I was in traffic, and I was stationary. The next thing I know is that someone from behind shunts me. I get out, there is some damage to my car but not really a lot to his. We exchange details, I take a photo etc, I go on my way. My insurance details are at home, so I haven't spoken to my insurer and I haven't spoken to the 3rd party yet either.
Anyway while I'm at work, it crosses my mind about the MOT on the car and when it's due. To my absolute horror, the car is untaxed and has been since the beginning of January. Bemused I thought that the car was being taxed monthly. I spoke to the DVLA just now, he said that it's not under a Direct Debit and that it was a one off payment. I've 3 cars, and I thought the other one had been paid for yearly not this one. That's my mistake.
I didn't, however, get a letter about the tax. Which has further compounded the problem.
My wife is working at home, and not answering her phone (helpful!) and I've text her to look for the log book. I'm going to get the car taxed today if I can.
However, how does this affect my accident this morning?
This morning I was in traffic, and I was stationary. The next thing I know is that someone from behind shunts me. I get out, there is some damage to my car but not really a lot to his. We exchange details, I take a photo etc, I go on my way. My insurance details are at home, so I haven't spoken to my insurer and I haven't spoken to the 3rd party yet either.
Anyway while I'm at work, it crosses my mind about the MOT on the car and when it's due. To my absolute horror, the car is untaxed and has been since the beginning of January. Bemused I thought that the car was being taxed monthly. I spoke to the DVLA just now, he said that it's not under a Direct Debit and that it was a one off payment. I've 3 cars, and I thought the other one had been paid for yearly not this one. That's my mistake.
I didn't, however, get a letter about the tax. Which has further compounded the problem.
My wife is working at home, and not answering her phone (helpful!) and I've text her to look for the log book. I'm going to get the car taxed today if I can.
However, how does this affect my accident this morning?
HantsRat said:
No unless your policy wording states you need tax for the policy to be valid.
Not true. The policy can say what it wants, as long as the car is roadworthy, and the accident was not caused by a fault that would have been an MOT fail, then it is irrelevant if the car has an MOT or not.TriumphStag3.0V8 said:
Check that the address on the logbook is correct. Friend of mine had this - correct address but wrong postcode, hence didn't receive the reminders from the DVLA
The address is fine, hasn't changed in the four years I've had the car. This is the first time I've never received a reminder.This may have changed so please feel free to ignore of it has.
Many years ago (2005?) I came back to my car to find a sticker over my tax disc from the Police telling me it was out of date and I'd been reported to DVLA.
It had indeed and I had just completely forgotten about it, was about 2 months past its due date. I rang DVLA and was able to avoid a fine by back paying the tax to the date it had expired. Never heard anything about it after.
As I say, this is many years ago and based on old tax discs but might be worth ago if it's really bothering you.
Many years ago (2005?) I came back to my car to find a sticker over my tax disc from the Police telling me it was out of date and I'd been reported to DVLA.
It had indeed and I had just completely forgotten about it, was about 2 months past its due date. I rang DVLA and was able to avoid a fine by back paying the tax to the date it had expired. Never heard anything about it after.
As I say, this is many years ago and based on old tax discs but might be worth ago if it's really bothering you.
I understand if you tax the car online up until the last day of the month, you pay the full month (not a proportion).
This also means that if you have now taxed the car as you state, you have covered the VED back until the beginning of the month and the system will just indicate you are covered.
I once missed a tax month on a car that was in storage in the old days when tax expired and you had to declare SORN or tax it via the Post Office. Post Office were funny with me due to the break so I had to contact DVLA to state the missing month was a SORN month which they were OK with.
Happy to be corrected but if you have now retrospectively taxed the vehicle, you’ve done all you can and will just have to wait the process out.
This also means that if you have now taxed the car as you state, you have covered the VED back until the beginning of the month and the system will just indicate you are covered.
I once missed a tax month on a car that was in storage in the old days when tax expired and you had to declare SORN or tax it via the Post Office. Post Office were funny with me due to the break so I had to contact DVLA to state the missing month was a SORN month which they were OK with.
Happy to be corrected but if you have now retrospectively taxed the vehicle, you’ve done all you can and will just have to wait the process out.
Gafferjim said:
DVLA no longer send out reminders, it's up to you to remember to tax your vehicle.
Go online and you can set up email reminders for your vehicle. They will send you a couple before it expires.Actually that might be MOT reminders
https://www.gov.uk/mot-reminder
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 2nd February 18:10
Gafferjim said:
DVLA no longer send out reminders, it's up to you to remember to tax your vehicle.
Are you sure? because I've been receiving them although it's been a few months since one was due but as I seem to have been allocated the role of 'fleet manager' for the Family's 8 vehicles, I really would appreciate getting the reminders, it's bad enough with the MOTs... RTB said:
SouthHamsGaz said:
Not true. The policy can say what it wants, as long as the car is roadworthy, and the accident was not caused by a fault that would have been an MOT fail, then it is irrelevant if the car has an MOT or not.
What about VED? 
Same applies to tax though. Insurers like to write loads of unenforceable crap in their T&Cs to try and wriggle out of legitimate claims.
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