Like a numpty I forgot NIL VED renewal...

[anonymous-user]

So as the title says, I forgot the renewal of VED for my NIL rated Fiesta.. I promptly renewed after receiving a reminder, two weeks late.

Entirely my fault, I've evidently become complacent given that all of my previous cars have had a fee, therefore renewed automatically as I paid by DD. Same for the motorcycle, that's on DD and auto renews.

I have to ask, why don't NIL rated have a similar system where it auto renews and only changes when the owner changes anything? Just seems odd that non exempt vehicles can 'fire and forget' and exempt cannot.

Just to state, I take no issue in renewing manually every year, I just in this instance did not due to my own error and take full responsibility.

[Monkeylegend]

If you set up a DD they will renew it for you

[anonymous-user]

Monkeylegend said:

If you set up a DD they will renew it for you

Current car is exempt, so can't.

[NGee]

Don't know if this is possible but can you set up a DD for 1p, then everybody is happy (as long as you can afford to lose 1p a year ).

[Monkeylegend]

Jaetten said:

Monkeylegend said:

If you set up a DD they will renew it for you

Current car is exempt, so can't.

I was only joking, but setting one up for a penny sounds like a good idea

[paintman]

Don't be surprised if their computer throws a wobbly & refuses to accept it.

[BertBert]

When you set up a DD, you can't choose the value of it.

[Jamescrs]

A colleague of mine has forgotten for the last two years running and has then been fined for not doing the proccess having been caught on DVLA ANPR camera vans! £50 each time I think. I take great joy in thanking him for his contributions every year to the country.

[Dogwatch]

paintman said:

Don't be surprised if their computer throws a wobbly & refuses to accept it.

Good try but their computer has to request the money. As an aside there was a funny story once about a bloke who kept getting demands for £0 from a (badly error trapped) utilities computer. He sent off a cheque for £0 which the utility processed but which crashed the bank's computer (arguably also badly error trapped).

Back on topic, surely these days there are plenty of ways of setting reminders on phones, tablets etc.?

[anonymous-user]

Dogwatch said:

Back on topic, surely these days there are plenty of ways of setting reminders on phones, tablets etc.?

Have done now, wont forget next time! I suppose I could buy a more polluting car and have a direct debit sorted so I never have to remember again!

[the tribester]

Jaetten said:

Dogwatch said:

Back on topic, surely these days there are plenty of ways of setting reminders on phones, tablets etc.?

Have done now, wont forget next time! I suppose I could buy a more polluting car and have a direct debit sorted so I never have to remember again!

You ignored the DVLA reminder, you have now set another reminder, if you're anything like me, you'll probably not
forget at all next year and be waiting for that day to come around.

[Lonely]

So am I understanding this correctly - they can prosecute you for not renewing something that is free?

[anonymous-user]

the tribester said:

You ignored the DVLA reminder, you have now set another reminder, if you're anything like me, you'll probably not
forget at all next year and be waiting for that day to come around.

Definitely not forgetting. Lesson learnt!

[martinbiz]

Lonely said:

So am I understanding this correctly - they can prosecute you for not renewing something that is free?

Yes

[irocfan]

martinbiz said:

Lonely said:

So am I understanding this correctly - they can prosecute you for not renewing something that is free?

Yes

[Toltec]

I suspect they do not auto renew because it lets them know you still have the vehicle. Though you would think getting an mot would tell them that.

[AlwynMike]

Same thing for Historic vehicles.
No cost, but renewable every year.

[Lonely]

martinbiz said:

Lonely said:

So am I understanding this correctly - they can prosecute you for not renewing something that is free?

Yes

Is this just bureaucracy gone mad or is there a sensible reason behind it?

[LosingGrip]

Toltec said:

I suspect they do not auto renew because it lets them know you still have the vehicle. Though you would think getting an mot would tell them that.

Or when they get the letter saying the vehicle has been sold...

[TVR1]

Lonely said:

martinbiz said:

Lonely said:

So am I understanding this correctly - they can prosecute you for not renewing something that is free?

Yes

Is this just bureaucracy gone mad or is there a sensible reason behind it?

It does seem strange but there’s a sensible reason behind it.

There’s no longer a requirement to show insurance when ‘taxing’ a car. The assumption is, insured.

Unless you SORN, continuous insurance applies (your responsibility) so if you don’t ‘tax’ even at £0 rated, you fall foul of the Law. The assumption being that if you don’t renew, you’ve the car on SORN/insured and if you don’t, red flag.

It’s actually a really straightforward system.

OP could Sorn (online right now) with the date he forget to renew and tomorrow, Un SORN, pay RFL £0 online and be good to go.