DVLA claim my car is untaxed

[AffIt]

I got a letter from the DVLA this morning claiming my car is untaxed.

I know it isn't: I bought the car from a dealership in September and taxed and insured it before driving away. I have the confirmation email from the DVLA and proof of payment on my banking app (I always tax my cars for 12 months at a time and used my credit card).

Obviously I'll call them on Monday, but in the meantime, I've printed off a copy of the confirmation email to keep in the car as proof.

How could this have happened, though?

Very easy

go on the gov website
input reg
will tell you if taxed

www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

Make sure not a scam

Is the registration number correct? Have you put personalised plates on? Did the tax payment actually go through?

Could be a scam, check online to be sure. https://www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

I assume you've double checked that the details you put in were correct, and that the payment didn't bounce You were really on the DVLA site not a clone? I would check on the link above, and be very careful driving (or not driving) until it's sorted, your insurance may not be valid if for some reason your car really isn't taxed. I assume the dealership is reputable, I can't think how they could have done anything dodgy but you never know.

Yes, I've checked all these things - dealership was Arnold Clark, all above board. I have the V5 in my name and home address.

It's definitely not a scam - I've checked the DVLA website and it's showing as untaxed there.

However, all the correspondence I have - including the payment references - are from official sources.

I work in cybersecurity and know exactly how sophisticated scams can be, but this isn't a scam - it looks like an actual mistake on the DVLA's part.

Did the payment actually go through? Come out of your bank/card?

The garage registered my new car to the wrong address, it was a nightmare and the dvla and the garage were not particularly helpful, the garage eventually reimbursed my costs , so I would check that.

Oh yes - I used my credit card and it's there in full on the statement, properly credited to the DVLA.

But the letter was sent to my address (I live rurally and my house has a name, not a number, so it couldn't be e.g., a wrong flat position or similar).

The V5 is correct.

Do they definitely mean this car?

As in, did you sell or scrap a car when yon bought this one, and could they mean that car if paperwork wasn't done correctly at the time?

Oh I see your post now saying it shows as untaxed on the DVLA site.

Very odd. Mind you they told my friend last year that her car, which she had just driven home in, had been scrapped earlier in the year and sent her a cheque for the tax refund. That took weeks to sort out. So they do make mistakes!

Are you sure it wasn't just for a month?

Whatever the mix up is, the car is untaxed. You'll have to tax it while you sort it out.

I’m wondering if this is a change of ownership which has wiped out the tax. For example if you taxed car on the 5th and Arnold clark have put 6th on V5 when sent away then it looks like new owner who owes tax. Hopefully it’s something simple.

Tax for a month? That's not a thing

My monies on some kind of paperwork cock up but worrying until it's sorted nevertheless

this happened to someone i know and it turned out they put in the wrong reg plate by one character. the car was the same make and model so they didn't realise until the letter came in. it's likely there's been an error on your/dealers side somewhere, highly unlikely DVLA have made a mistake.

But then they wouldn't have written to the OP.

OP I'd send them photocopies of your email confirmation, V5 etc and ask them what they think they are playing at. Send it by registered post. Sometimes you have to go old school. I'd be so cross, such a waste of your time.

How can the OP tax it when she already has taxed it? She has the email confirmation with the correct details. OP I assume it does have the right registration number on it?

Just checked my own as a result of this thread! I had thought you could rely on the email confirmation...

Perhaps they should have kept tax disks after all.

As fs as the DVLA computer is concerned it’s not taxed. So it would be possible to tax it and pay again.

Best just to speak to the DVLA first though rather than paying again and trying to get the money refunded.

Many thanks to all who replied!

A quick update: I spoke to the DVLA this morning who confirmed that the tax HAD been paid on the date that I bought the car - they had the confirmation email - but because it had been taxed using the green new keeper's slip, it had then been cancelled? Apparently because they didn't have the keeper's details, even though I have the V5?

Anyway, long story short, I've had to retax the car (fortunately I have the financial ability to do so) and apply for a refund - in hard format, can you believe? It's like living in 2003. 😁

I'm going to contact the dealership I bought the car from, as I suspect there is something wrong with their processes.

However, the car is fortunately now legal again, which is the main thing, but please treat this as a cautionary tale: when buying a new car, check your tax details a few months later!

Arnold Shark would actually make me think it IS dodgy to be honest, wouldn’t trust them with a sock

I think you could be right.

What would they have to gain by registering cars wrongly?

Would they be going that the DVLA would make large scale refunds to people who hadnt paid the RFL? Can that even happen?