Covid-19 and car tax stress

[CacheMonet]

I'm hoping someone on here can help put me at ease, but shortly before the virus outbreak in the UK, I submitted my old V5 to DVLA in order to change my address (I forgot to do so after moving house some 5 months prior ).

Now either it got lost in the post, or DVLA could not get it processed in time for me to recieve it back in the post before my tax expired.

With the current sitatuion, I am unable to either pay my tax or SORN the car because:
- Any tax reminders will have been sent to my previous address
- I do not have my original V5
- DVLA phone lines are only open to key workers
- The DVLA webchat is closed
- Their email system just regurgitates the information from the website

Now, I doubt very much I will be seeing the V5 in the post, and I can't order a new V5.

How likely am I to get in trouble for this? Its a second car and is not stored on the public highway so I don't think it will get clamped (in the unlikely event that this is evening hapening right now)

[quinny100]

You can tax the vehicle at a Post Office if you take a completed form V62 with you: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applica...

Alternatively you could also SORN it by post: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/v890-st...

The worst case scenario is you'll be fined £80, reduced to £40 for prompt payment for failure to tax the vehicle. I think it's unlikely you'll get done in the current climate but you never know.

[CacheMonet]

quinny100 said:

The worst case scenario is you'll be fined £80, reduced to £40 for prompt payment for failure to tax the vehicle. I think it's unlikely you'll get done in the current climate but you never know.

thanks, I'm guessing unless there's a grace period that the fine has already been sent to my previous address

Looks like a trip to the post office is in order

[Jon39]

There must now be thousands of people having difficulties with DVLA under the present circumstances.

One example. Vehicle just become eligible for Historic status, VED expires this month. Cannot change the status, so will have to pay about £250, although the tax rate is now zero.

Could apply at a Post Office but even then, the change is unlikely to be processed at DVLA.

Not really a worry though, hundreds of people are dying every day.

[V8fan]

DVLA are working. They are processing a lot of cars declared SORN (other threads on this).

I don't see why a new V5c won't be sent out for a change of address, it may just take a while. If you sent it weeks ago, it should have been done by now. Could a change of address not been done online, like a change of owner?

If you DO get stopped for no VED, an explanation should suffice, and as long as you backdate it to the 1st of the month (which will be automatic if you do it online), it shouldn't be an issue.

Since you say it is not parked on the road, I wouldn't stress about it. There are several weeks of grace for untaxed cars before they send out 'red letters' and you'll be offered the chance to buy VED back to the date of expiry. Same goes for taxed cars that are not insured.

Edited by V8fan on Tuesday 14th April 21:44

[Red Devil]

V8fan said:

Could a change of address not been done online, like a change of owner?

No - https://www.gov.uk/change-name-address-v5c?step-by...
Yet for a D/L you can - https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence?...
Go figure.

[ollie plymsoles]

I sent 2 log books off to change address and both came back in about 2 weeks. One arrived last week and the other was a few days before. Normal postal deliveries seem to be affected as we only get post once or twice a week at the present time.

[anonymous-user]

Wait for letter warning you that you haven't taxed the vehicle.

On the letter will be a reference number and a code to tax it online.

[KevinCamaroSS]

Get in touch with the occupants of your old address and ask them to forward the DVLA letters to you, or open them and quote the necessary information.

[CacheMonet]

Went to the post office to do the V62 to get a new V5, and tax the car.

After trying both my old and new postcode, different spellings of my name (checking for clerical errors) and number plate, their system was not able to find me or the car.

Instead, I sent the form off with 25 quid to apply for a new V5, hoping that I see it before getting a fine. I am however starting to think the issue the post office were having is also the reason why I didn't get my original V5 back in the first place from DVLA.

My next step will be to send a self addressed envelope to my old address to see if they have kept anything V11-ish in appearance.

[Nimby]

Red Devil said:

V8fan said:

Could a change of address not been done online, like a change of owner?

No - https://www.gov.uk/change-name-address-v5c?step-by...
Yet for a D/L you can - https://www.gov.uk/change-address-driving-licence?...
Go figure.

And to change your address for paying VED by direct debit you have to phone them up - can't do so by post or online.

[martinbiz]

Mobilecommute said:

Wait for letter warning you that you haven't taxed the vehicle.

On the letter will be a reference number and a code to tax it online.

This

Have never known them not send a reminder, Job done

[CacheMonet]

martinbiz said:

This

Have never known them not send a reminder, Job done

All well and good as long as the reminder goes to the correct address... or reminders are being sent at the moment

I am hoping the the occupants of my previous address give me the time of day and send some thing back

[Spitfire2]

Jon39 said:

There must now be thousands of people having difficulties with DVLA under the present circumstances.

One example. Vehicle just become eligible for Historic status, VED expires this month. Cannot change the status, so will have to pay about £250, although the tax rate is now zero.

Could apply at a Post Office but even then, the change is unlikely to be processed at DVLA.

Not really a worry though, hundreds of people are dying every day.

It takes seconds to process at the post office. Couple of mouse clicks and all done

[Dont like rolls]

V8fan said:

DVLA are working. They are processing a lot of cars declared SORN (other threads on this).

But still charging you.....declared SORN yes: Charged Tax: Yes

Cancel your DD with the bank directly because DVLA are not. Automated system My ARSE !

[AlexRS2782]

Dont like rolls said:

V8fan said:

DVLA are working. They are processing a lot of cars declared SORN (other threads on this).

But still charging you.....declared SORN yes: Charged Tax: Yes

Cancel your DD with the bank directly because DVLA are not. Automated system My ARSE !

TBH reading a number of posts on this, on here & other forums, there is one quite common pattern. Those complaining about the money still being taken from their account & the DD not being cancelled are the people that were declaring SORN on the last 2 or 3 days of the month, or in most cases the last day itself with only a few hours left before the clock strikes midnight.

As i posted on another thread, declaring SORN 24 / 48 hours before the scheduled DD is due & has already been authorised to be collected from your bank (on the 1st day of the month) is never going to work. I've always found that if you don't want to cancel the DD, manually via online banking the day after declaring SORN, then you really need to be declaring SORN at least 1 week before the end of the month to ensure there is enough time for the cancellation to be actioned with your bank.

That's exactly what i did with my Focus RS - declared it SORN the day after the lockdown was announced and got the confirmation email straight away. 1 day later the car was showing SORN on the .gov checker, and when i checked my account online on the day the payment was due to be taken, the DD cancellation had been actioned & no money had left my account.

Why people think that declaring SORN at 10 minutes to midnight on the last day of the month, when the DD payment is already authorised to be collected the next day, is going to work / be processed even in non Covid conditions is rather amusing tbh.

[Dont like rolls]

Well done, you gave DVLA a weeks worth of your money, I am sure they are very grateful.

What is it about Automated computor systems that need a weeks notice ?....please tell, is it the electrons in Wales being slower ?

I am not talking seconds...24 hours.

[Bobtherallyfan]

SORNed mine on the 30th March and the system showed the car as still being taxed until yesterday. So it took a computer system 18 days to catch up. Perhaps we should go back to pigeon post?

[Grandad Gaz]

CacheMonet said:

............My next step will be to send a self addressed envelope to my old address to see if they have kept anything V11-ish in appearance.

I know this is of no use to you now but, next time you move house why not pay and get the Post Office to redirect your mail for twelve months?

We have always done this. Saves a lot of hassle.

[Red Devil]

Dont like rolls said:

Well done, you gave DVLA a weeks worth of your money, I am sure they are very grateful.

DVLA only give refunds of complete unexipred months (and have done since Pontius was a pilot) so it makes br all difference which day of the preceding month you declare SORN.