Accidental tiny gap in Road Tax ... is the fine automatic?
Discussion
My mother, just before Christmas, took ownership of her elderly husband's car (he cannot drive anymore due to recent illness) - she drives rarely! She sent off log book. Both at same address. Car was taxed before the transfer right though to Oct 2017.
She didn't realise with all the new road tax rules (with no tax discs anymore etc.) that she had re-tax the car in her name... immediately. Big mistake.
As soon as I knew about this (today, 1st Jan '17) I sorted it for them - i.e. taxed the car over the phone using the automated system.
Unfortunately, DVLA do not allow to back date to 1st Dec '16 when it should have been re-taxed from and it now is taxed from 1st Jan '17. The automated voice said there ' MAY ' be some action enforced for the gap in tax. It's the ' MAY ' bit which is so infuriating - will they fine or not?
How likely is this enforcement (given just a few days' gap and new owner at same address - i.e. husband to wife) and tax now sorted as best they can? Am I right in thinking it is an £80 fine?
Worried a nasty letter will freak them out a bit.... so want to be ahead of the game should it arrive. Don't mind paying it for them and moving on - just don't want them to panic about it.
grrr... irony of course is that Dec 16's tax was already paid for by husband anyway - he'll not be getting any of that back with his 'sellers' road tax refund as they only refund remaining full months.
She didn't realise with all the new road tax rules (with no tax discs anymore etc.) that she had re-tax the car in her name... immediately. Big mistake.
As soon as I knew about this (today, 1st Jan '17) I sorted it for them - i.e. taxed the car over the phone using the automated system.
Unfortunately, DVLA do not allow to back date to 1st Dec '16 when it should have been re-taxed from and it now is taxed from 1st Jan '17. The automated voice said there ' MAY ' be some action enforced for the gap in tax. It's the ' MAY ' bit which is so infuriating - will they fine or not?
How likely is this enforcement (given just a few days' gap and new owner at same address - i.e. husband to wife) and tax now sorted as best they can? Am I right in thinking it is an £80 fine?
Worried a nasty letter will freak them out a bit.... so want to be ahead of the game should it arrive. Don't mind paying it for them and moving on - just don't want them to panic about it.
grrr... irony of course is that Dec 16's tax was already paid for by husband anyway - he'll not be getting any of that back with his 'sellers' road tax refund as they only refund remaining full months.
If this generates a fine then it is a bloody disgrace !
The car was taxed for the whole of December. The government has had, and will not refund, the money already paid for that.
This needs to changed and the rule should be that, where a car is taxed at the point of purchase, then the new owner must tax it at the first day of the month following the one in which it is bought.....
The car was taxed for the whole of December. The government has had, and will not refund, the money already paid for that.
This needs to changed and the rule should be that, where a car is taxed at the point of purchase, then the new owner must tax it at the first day of the month following the one in which it is bought.....
In my experience, this is unlikely to result in a fine. I've been in a similar situation (actually, forgot to tax...oops!) twice and no action was taken.
Why did she feel the need to change the ownership anyway? In a marriage, goods are usually held equally and jointly; over 40+ years, we've never had to change V5 details when cars have moved between us.
Why did she feel the need to change the ownership anyway? In a marriage, goods are usually held equally and jointly; over 40+ years, we've never had to change V5 details when cars have moved between us.
littleredrooster said:
Why did she feel the need to change the ownership anyway? In a marriage, goods are usually held equally and jointly; over 40+ years, we've never had to change V5 details when cars have moved between us.
Given that the V5 has nothing to do with ownership, I can't see there was any need to do anything.OddCat said:
If this generates a fine then it is a bloody disgrace !
The car was taxed for the whole of December. The government has had, and will not refund, the money already paid for that.
This needs to changed and the rule should be that, where a car is taxed at the point of purchase, then the new owner must tax it at the first day of the month following the one in which it is bought.....
What you mean revert back to old system, NEVER. It made too much sense but apparently encouraged drivers without insurance. The fact that plenty of cars drive around without tax/insurance anyway and fake plates is neither here not there. The car was taxed for the whole of December. The government has had, and will not refund, the money already paid for that.
This needs to changed and the rule should be that, where a car is taxed at the point of purchase, then the new owner must tax it at the first day of the month following the one in which it is bought.....
It is all very well having INPR but if there is no follow up then there is not much point. Bring back the tax disc and make is easy for everyone to keep their car taxed. Was there not a report that said income from road tax had dropped since the new system was brought in.
Pip
Pip1968 said:
What you mean revert back to old system, NEVER. It made too much sense but apparently encouraged drivers without insurance. The fact that plenty of cars drive around without tax/insurance anyway and fake plates is neither here not there.
It is all very well having INPR but if there is no follow up then there is not much point. Bring back the tax disc and make is easy for everyone to keep their car taxed. Was there not a report that said income from road tax had dropped since the new system was brought in.
Pip
ah the great covernote and then cancel scam ...It is all very well having INPR but if there is no follow up then there is not much point. Bring back the tax disc and make is easy for everyone to keep their car taxed. Was there not a report that said income from road tax had dropped since the new system was brought in.
Pip
Pip1968 said:
OddCat said:
If this generates a fine then it is a bloody disgrace !
The car was taxed for the whole of December. The government has had, and will not refund, the money already paid for that.
This needs to changed and the rule should be that, where a car is taxed at the point of purchase, then the new owner must tax it at the first day of the month following the one in which it is bought.....
What you mean revert back to old system, NEVER. It made too much sense but apparently encouraged drivers without insurance. The fact that plenty of cars drive around without tax/insurance anyway and fake plates is neither here not there. The car was taxed for the whole of December. The government has had, and will not refund, the money already paid for that.
This needs to changed and the rule should be that, where a car is taxed at the point of purchase, then the new owner must tax it at the first day of the month following the one in which it is bought.....
It is all very well having INPR but if there is no follow up then there is not much point. Bring back the tax disc and make is easy for everyone to keep their car taxed. Was there not a report that said income from road tax had dropped since the new system was brought in.
Pip
t and allows the government to double dip on changeover months. Tax should go with the vehicle.In theory it is ab automated fine, however I believe it is luck of the draw whether or not they actually catch you. For a couple of days/weeks the chances are infinitely small. If you have a car untaxed for multiple months, expect a letter.
But yes, I agree with the ridiculousness of the new system. And continuous insurance laws which means the only way you can move your vehicle between properties is to techbically rip off an insurance Co. (Take a years policy and cancel within cooling period,)
But yes, I agree with the ridiculousness of the new system. And continuous insurance laws which means the only way you can move your vehicle between properties is to techbically rip off an insurance Co. (Take a years policy and cancel within cooling period,)
I wonder if it would be possible to get this taken to court and hope that the magistrate takes pity on you. There is, after all, absolutely no loss of revenue to DVLA. You're technically guilty of the offence, but surely no punishment is appropriate - this has "absolute discharge" written all over it IMHO, but whether a magistrate would see it that way and whether it's worth the risk of a larger fine (?) is difficult to say.
Edited to add: My dad failed to tax his car a year or two ago. He bought it factory new and it had a first-year nil rate tax, but I think he thought it was permanently tax free. I realised there was a problem, and unfortunately he had already lost the V5C so I had to apply for a new one and tax it at the same time for him. There was something like a one month gap, but he has never mentioned receiving a fine for it.
Edited to add: My dad failed to tax his car a year or two ago. He bought it factory new and it had a first-year nil rate tax, but I think he thought it was permanently tax free. I realised there was a problem, and unfortunately he had already lost the V5C so I had to apply for a new one and tax it at the same time for him. There was something like a one month gap, but he has never mentioned receiving a fine for it.
Edited by Dr Mike Oxgreen on Monday 2nd January 08:05
A few years ago I was told by a DVLA employee that you donr risk a fine until you are a few days into the 2nd month without tax, so not to worry. Of course that could have changed as that was under the 'old rules'. It was a similar situation, start of the month after, and sure enough no fine but I did end up paying over the phone for a pro-rata 'month gap' in the cars tax history. I don't recall them writing to me about it, I think i was calling about another vehicle and asked about it - they certainly had a record of the gap and suggested it should be paid, so I did.
Thanks all for the replies.
Going to wait and see what happens. I mentioned to them that they might get a letter about tax gap, but not to worry about - I'll sort it out should one arrive. Fingered crossed no letter will arrive. If it does I might call them to explain, if I have the time, otherwise will just pay and move on.
Going to wait and see what happens. I mentioned to them that they might get a letter about tax gap, but not to worry about - I'll sort it out should one arrive. Fingered crossed no letter will arrive. If it does I might call them to explain, if I have the time, otherwise will just pay and move on.
Funk said:
The new system is st and allows the government to double dip on changeover months. Tax should go with the vehicle.
The new system is pretty good. Always get a refund when you sell, so no more arguing with the buyer about tax being included or not. And the end of the pain in the backside tax disc. t and allows the government to double dip on changeover months. Tax should go with the vehicle.No you won't get charged. I forgot to tax my track car on which the tax expired at the end of September.
I must have put the reminder letter and forgotten about it and I only realised on about the 19th of November. I waited until the first of December to tax it saving myself one months tax.
Fine by me as it has been off the road that whole time anyway. No letter or last chance letter or anything. I think there is quite a bit of leeway.
I must have put the reminder letter and forgotten about it and I only realised on about the 19th of November. I waited until the first of December to tax it saving myself one months tax.
Fine by me as it has been off the road that whole time anyway. No letter or last chance letter or anything. I think there is quite a bit of leeway.
Timbuktu said:
No you won't get charged. I forgot to tax my track car on which the tax expired at the end of September.
I must have put the reminder letter and forgotten about it and I only realised on about the 19th of November. I waited until the first of December to tax it saving myself one months tax.
Fine by me as it has been off the road that whole time anyway. No letter or last chance letter or anything. I think there is quite a bit of leeway.
Didn't you save two months?I must have put the reminder letter and forgotten about it and I only realised on about the 19th of November. I waited until the first of December to tax it saving myself one months tax.
Fine by me as it has been off the road that whole time anyway. No letter or last chance letter or anything. I think there is quite a bit of leeway.
No chance the OP will get done. I don't understand the hatred for the new system. It works well and the double dip that many bleat on about is probably less than £20 in the majority of cases so peanuts
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