Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Massively screwed up, untaxed car

44 replies

JustGoodVibes · 09/02/2020 21:59

I moved home 5 months ago, I thought I’d updated My address everywhere but I literally just read another thread about the need to update the V5 of a new address, I had no idea! It’s my first car that I’ve only owned for around a year.
This also means I haven’t received my road tax reminder and after a check online it ran out last week!

A further complication is I’m currently on holiday, with the car a 5 hour drive from home and can’t tax it without the log book.

I feel sick and I’m not sure what to do?! Will I get a massive fine, can I go to prison or something for this, my anxiety is going through the roof.

OP posts:
Tinty · 09/02/2020 22:47

SunshineDays2019

Sorry I misread the OP. I thought she meant that she was 5 hours away from her car.

Luckily I was brought up to be pleasant not rude.

So I will just say the second part of my post as I read online is that it is an £80 fine which should be halved if OP pays quickly. I would also recommend phoning the DVLA and sending someone to your house OP to find your V5 and get the document reference number.

Reallybadidea · 09/02/2020 22:52

I read it that the OP is on holiday and the car is a 5 hour drive from home, not necessarily that the OP is with the car Grin

Phone the dvla in the morning, sure it should be possible to sort out.

Original poster
JustGoodVibes · 09/02/2020 22:54

Thank you for the replies and reassurance. Unfortunately the only other person with a key is on holiday with me, so I can’t get access to the log book. The car is currently on a private drive until the drive home on Tuesday. I need the book to tax it online, it also says if calling to have it to hand.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Tinty · 09/02/2020 22:58

Hopefully you will be ok OP, make sure to tax it as soon as you get home. If you take your V5 to the post office to tax it you should be able to update your address and get a new V5 sent to you, you can also set it up to be paid by direct debit so it just rolls over next year.

tywysoges · 09/02/2020 23:06

DH made the same mistake, forgot to update his v5 and only found out when he got a letter from the debt collectors! His car is £0 tax and he didn’t get a reminder so he forgot. He rang the DVLA and paid the fine - £80. He changed the address on the v5 immediately and escaped the £1000 fine for that one...

Sleepycat91 · 09/02/2020 23:07

Mine ran out in September, i didnt realise until july. I drove on the motorway 6 days a week, past many a police car, parked on the road and nothing ever happened. Just luck i guess but dont recommend it.

windymillersmill · 09/02/2020 23:10

My car is £0 tax but I still had to tax it, they even set up the direct debit Hmm anyway, direct debit is the way to go when you do get it taxed op.

negomi90 · 09/02/2020 23:15

You can call DVLA, there was a problem with mine last year (I lost the letter) and I called them and they sorted it on the phone.

Halfstonehomerun · 10/02/2020 06:46

This happened to me! Moved, forgot to update address, no paperwork.

Called DVLA who advised to go to the post office, they gave me a form there to change address and get new V5 AND pay the tax. All sorted. If you are in the UK on holiday I’d call the DVLA to check this advise is still valid and then get down to your nearest PO today and set your mind at rest.

Then set up a direct debit when you’re home!

chester18 · 10/02/2020 20:39

As far as I'm aware you don't have to tax a car if you aren't driving it and it's parked in a private driveway. Obviously you'll have to do it when you get home before you drive it again but otherwise I wouldn't worry and enjoy your holiday.

Double3xposure · 10/02/2020 20:43

Did you phone DVLA today @JustGoodVibes?

Otherwise do it tomorrow before you get in the car and move if off the driveway.

PurpleDaisies · 10/02/2020 20:43

As far as I'm aware you don't have to tax a car if you aren't driving it and it's parked in a private driveway.

You still need to make a SORN though.

AStarSoBright · 10/02/2020 20:49

And how does OP drive it home if it's been declared off road (SORN) chester18?

tiredandgrumpy · 10/02/2020 21:07

I'd like to think that the DVLA would not chase people who paid up after an honest mistake like this, but instead would be after the long term avoiders. For that reason, I'd call them tomorrow with your registration number and explain. They may be able to take payment without your logbook reference.

Maybe I'm naive, but it's surely best to give it a try.

tiredandgrumpy · 10/02/2020 21:08

And I'm sure they always used to have something like a 15 day grace period, so you may not have hit their radar yet anyway.

candycane222 · 10/02/2020 21:13

Pretty sure mine was late this year - only noticed when I realised the MOT had also run out ....

I read somewhere that since they stopped using paper tax disks - which did kind of help remind us, back in the day - they have lost several times more tax revenue than the savings on posting out little bits of paper. Genius Hmm

But it does suggest you (and I) are far from alone.

DappledThings · 10/02/2020 21:26

I forgot to pay ours for nearly 7 months after moving. We got one fine of around £450 I think for the one time it was caught on a ANPR camera and that triggered a status check.

We were very lucky indeed. More so than we deserved to be! Could have been fined loads of times.

Original poster
JustGoodVibes · 11/02/2020 18:34

Thank you all for stopping me panicking, made it home and car is now taxed and log book filled out with new address ready to go in the post tomorrow morning. Phew

OP posts:
freeingNora · 11/02/2020 18:42

You have a 30 day grace to get it sorted as long as it's taxed by the end of the month it ran out in you'll be ok however if you're worried call DVLA xx

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread