DVLA - best/worst experiences
Discussion
I got back from visiting family on Boxing Day and decided to do some admin having recently moved. I went on the DVLA website in the evening and changed the address on my DL and three V5s. The post came this morning at 9.30am will an updated DL and three log books. I appreciate this process will all be automated but it’s still pretty impressive.
What are your best/worst experiences of the DVLA?
What are your best/worst experiences of the DVLA?
The worst was when I changed the registration of a car online in 2019. The MoT details didn't transfer and I had to complain for them to sort it out. DVLA and DVSA kept blaming each other. I was waiting to try and sell the car and it was 6 weeks before the MoT records were correct. 
About 90% of the time, they're fast, and efficient. But not always. I've SORN my TVR today and got the message 'something went wrong.' I tried again and it said the VED status had already been changed.
I'll check tomorrow to see if it really has changed. The database doesn't update immediately. The MoT one, run by DVSA does,
About 90% of the time, they're fast, and efficient. But not always. I've SORN my TVR today and got the message 'something went wrong.' I tried again and it said the VED status had already been changed.
I'll check tomorrow to see if it really has changed. The database doesn't update immediately. The MoT one, run by DVSA does,Personally I can't say I've had a bad experience with the DVLA. I bought a new private plate only a couple of days before Christmas and received the certificate through on the first post after. Can't knock it.
Only thing that was a pain was when I came to remove a private plate from a different car, but because of some reason or other I had to apply manually. So download and fill in form, go to post office and get a postal order and mail it off. Was a faff but to be fair I had the retention certificate through within ten days.
Only thing that was a pain was when I came to remove a private plate from a different car, but because of some reason or other I had to apply manually. So download and fill in form, go to post office and get a postal order and mail it off. Was a faff but to be fair I had the retention certificate through within ten days.
Taking off and assigning cherished plates is fairly painless and the certificate of entitlement is posted out in a couple of days, seem to recall you can only do it on line between 0700 and 1900for some reason.
Buying 2nd hand car once the dealer updates dvla new log book is posted very promptly too.
I can't complain about their service at all.
Buying 2nd hand car once the dealer updates dvla new log book is posted very promptly too.
I can't complain about their service at all.
The DVLA are great in the main but it would be nice if they had more discretion around number plate retention expiry dates.
Our client has (had) a fantastic short number one plate worth well into six figures.
It was on retention.
The ten year expiry was coming up so they wrote to the registered address for that number which was a business address he no longer used.
The retention certificate expired.
He has lost the number.
Effectively lost six figure sum.
No right of appeal.
But what makes it worse is that the number plate is scrapped. He doesn t get it. The DVLA don t get it. No one else can ever use it.
This could and should be looked at.
Also there is a lot of number plates being obtained fraudulently and sold on to unsuspecting buyers fraudulently - again it would be good if security in this area was tighter.
Someone got scammed for nearly half a million recently.
It would be nice if you could HPi a number plate or insure it or do more to protect yourself.
Our client has (had) a fantastic short number one plate worth well into six figures.
It was on retention.
The ten year expiry was coming up so they wrote to the registered address for that number which was a business address he no longer used.
The retention certificate expired.
He has lost the number.
Effectively lost six figure sum.
No right of appeal.
But what makes it worse is that the number plate is scrapped. He doesn t get it. The DVLA don t get it. No one else can ever use it.
This could and should be looked at.
Also there is a lot of number plates being obtained fraudulently and sold on to unsuspecting buyers fraudulently - again it would be good if security in this area was tighter.
Someone got scammed for nearly half a million recently.
It would be nice if you could HPi a number plate or insure it or do more to protect yourself.
Unreal said:
Simple stuff usually works fine - like changing keeper details.
However, get on the wrong side of them and they are incompetent and inflexible. Like HMRC they are rather too keen on interpreting things in their favour and inventing 'rules' without any legal back up.
Quite so. Took four months and more exasperating phone calls than I care to remember trying to register a factory built 2018 Sebring 3000 this year. The DVLA were an utter nightmare to deal with as they made up excuse after excuse for the delay. At one point I nearly believed the car would never get a UK reg. When it was finally settled the delay was internal politics around whether it secured a 2000 plate due to the oily bits being from a 2000 BMW or 2018 as per the factory build.However, get on the wrong side of them and they are incompetent and inflexible. Like HMRC they are rather too keen on interpreting things in their favour and inventing 'rules' without any legal back up.
They in the end followed the rules they had in place - If built and exported (this car went to the Channel Islands) as a new car if it returns to the UK it gets a year build plate.
sixor8 said:
I had to do something with DVLA with a cheque by post in 2024, I'd forgotten about that. So I had to order a cheque book, hadn't used one in years! I wasn't aware postal orders still existed TBH. 
All car dealers in the UK still have a book cheque for use once a year when renewing trade plates Can’t say I’ve ever had any issues. I did have to send them a postal order to get the number plate removed from my stolen Discovery and had to pay £10 fee on a £80 transaction but that’s not really their fault.
I’ve done a couple plate transfers recently (onto retention then onto another car) and I’ve had the new V5s within 72 hours.
Like many (most? all?) the gov.uk services all the online stuff works well.
I’ve done a couple plate transfers recently (onto retention then onto another car) and I’ve had the new V5s within 72 hours.
Like many (most? all?) the gov.uk services all the online stuff works well.
DVLA have generally been absolutely fine in 18 years of driving and about 35 vehicles.
Fine except once. I was issued a new license after passing my bike test, when it didn't arrive I phoned them to enquire. They assured me it had been delivered, but not to my current or any previous address.
Asked if I could have the address, they refused. Asked if I could change my address, yes but not without sending my current one that I'd not received back. I asked if they realised they were asking the impossible, they reluctantly agreed that they were.
So back to where it was sent. They refused to give me the address again due to "data protection" but we're willing to tell me it was in England. I pushed harder, they agreed to give me the first letter of the address, I pushed harder still reasoning that this was ridiculous. Eventually they relented and gave me the full address. Finally!
They'd sent my licence out to an Army camp somewhere in Dorset. I had indeed served in the past, but I'd had two civilian addresses since and had never been based in this camp. It wasn't the Army's driving school location either, just some random base.
I got in touch and the folk there were happy enough to send it out to me, bizarrely the actual licence did indeed have my correct address on it, just the envelope that was wrong. The guys at the base were checking all the regiments based there to see if I was among them, hence they hadn't already sent it out to me.
Very strange. Other than that I've received all my documents quickly and correctly.
Fine except once. I was issued a new license after passing my bike test, when it didn't arrive I phoned them to enquire. They assured me it had been delivered, but not to my current or any previous address.
Asked if I could have the address, they refused. Asked if I could change my address, yes but not without sending my current one that I'd not received back. I asked if they realised they were asking the impossible, they reluctantly agreed that they were.
So back to where it was sent. They refused to give me the address again due to "data protection" but we're willing to tell me it was in England. I pushed harder, they agreed to give me the first letter of the address, I pushed harder still reasoning that this was ridiculous. Eventually they relented and gave me the full address. Finally!
They'd sent my licence out to an Army camp somewhere in Dorset. I had indeed served in the past, but I'd had two civilian addresses since and had never been based in this camp. It wasn't the Army's driving school location either, just some random base.
I got in touch and the folk there were happy enough to send it out to me, bizarrely the actual licence did indeed have my correct address on it, just the envelope that was wrong. The guys at the base were checking all the regiments based there to see if I was among them, hence they hadn't already sent it out to me.
Very strange. Other than that I've received all my documents quickly and correctly.
Edited by Pebbles167 on Saturday 3rd January 19:45
Shortly after we moved house, I got a threatening letter that I needed to tax my cars or they would be crushed.
But I had only just taxed them. Went online, not taxed, checked bank account, definitely paid for...
After a very long time on the phone... It turns out, rather than changing my address, DVLA had sold my cars to myself at the new address. Cancelling the tax, and adding an extra owner to the V5s. The tax refund takes something like 6-8 weeks, the demand came through in about 3 days, considerably quicker than the replacement V5s, hence me not knowing WTF was going on...
According to them, this was my fault for filling the form in wrong. Me 'Not according to the photocopies I have in my hand' - that was met with 'any more language like that Sir and your call will be terminated'.
After quite a lot of negotiation, they reissued the V5s with one less owner, but I had to pay the double tax for a month for the cars.
Fecking incompetent winky service.
But I had only just taxed them. Went online, not taxed, checked bank account, definitely paid for...
After a very long time on the phone... It turns out, rather than changing my address, DVLA had sold my cars to myself at the new address. Cancelling the tax, and adding an extra owner to the V5s. The tax refund takes something like 6-8 weeks, the demand came through in about 3 days, considerably quicker than the replacement V5s, hence me not knowing WTF was going on...
According to them, this was my fault for filling the form in wrong. Me 'Not according to the photocopies I have in my hand' - that was met with 'any more language like that Sir and your call will be terminated'.
After quite a lot of negotiation, they reissued the V5s with one less owner, but I had to pay the double tax for a month for the cars.
Fecking incompetent winky service.
sixor8 said:
You can apply online to renew the retention. If it was so valuable perhaps he should have had a reminder to himself?
You’re right of course.But things are easily missed when busy - why so many people forget an MOT, to tax a car or suchlike.
Just seems in this instance the penalty is unduly harsh.
sixor8 said:
You can apply online to renew the retention. If it was so valuable perhaps he should have had a reminder to himself?
You’re right of course.But things are easily missed when busy - why so many people forget an MOT, to tax a car or suchlike.
Just seems in this instance the penalty is unduly harsh.
It all falls apart trying to get your licence back following a health issue.
It can take months and months after the revocation period despite providing all the documentation required.
Incredibly frustrating when your life/livelyhood is put on hold due to nothing more than their inept systems/ admin.
It can take months and months after the revocation period despite providing all the documentation required.
Incredibly frustrating when your life/livelyhood is put on hold due to nothing more than their inept systems/ admin.
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