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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bollocks I've ballsed up

166 replies

HuffleWoof · 29/07/2022 00:07

I've had so much on recently. I have had cancer and Im finishing treatment this week I've been meaning to pay the car tax bill, it's just completely escaped me with all the crap I've had to keep on top of (not an excuse I know)

DH is driving me home from the marsden on Monday, it's a 5 hour trip and the fucking car tax runs out on Monday. Will he get pulled over? I know it's an offence to not pay for car tax. Tbh he could have sorted it and didn't so it's not all on me:

We're there now and I've just gone to sort it thinking 'oh fuck that needs doing' and it's can't be done without the letter which is on the kitchen table 5 hours away, or the log book also 5 hours away.

If we go through many anpr cameras on Monday (speed limit cameras etc) will we get 10+ fines? This is a nightmare. My mum has a spare key but I don't feel like I can ask her to drive for 45 mins to get me an 11 digit code on a piece of paper 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
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BalloonsAndWhistles · 29/07/2022 08:39

Definitely call them, they might be able to do something. If not, could you offer to pay your mum’s petrol so she goes over?

My DH once drove around for two months with no car tax! The dealer told him he’d sorted it when the car was purchased but they were so dodgy (for various other reasons we ultimately found out). Literally nothing happened to DH. However, don’t use that as a reason not to sort it.

Applegreenb · 29/07/2022 08:43

I did this, we where going on holiday and completely forgot it was going to run out while in our holiday!

i managed to do it without the number on the letter. It’s just a few extra questions on the system to find your car.

Borris · 29/07/2022 08:46

I think you'll be fine. I completely forgot to renew mine a couple of years ago. It was a month later when I broke down that the AA wouldn't come out as I didn't have insurance. I hadn't realised. Luckily I was walking distance of home, so walked back for the V5 number and then renewed it and they came. I assumed there'd be a penalty but there wasn't.

phishy · 29/07/2022 08:48

You’ll be fine. Best thing I did was putting the vehicle excise duty on direct debit. Never think about it now.

DappledThings · 29/07/2022 08:53

I forgot for about 4 months once. We moved house and somehow updated address on one car and not the other so we didn't get the reminder letter. We did get one fine but you would he highly unlikely to get one in a day.

Was once taking car in for MOT and the man in front of me was talking to the guy on reception. He vaguely knew what date the MOT was due and thought it was the following week. It was actually 51 weeks previously. He had the day and month correct but had somehow missed an entire year. Never been fined.

user1471538283 · 29/07/2022 08:55

Ring them! I went through a couple of years of forgetting my car tax (when it fell due on 1 January) and they were so helpful.

phishy · 29/07/2022 08:56

user1471538283 · 29/07/2022 08:55

Ring them! I went through a couple of years of forgetting my car tax (when it fell due on 1 January) and they were so helpful.

Unfortunately if you forget it a few months, you then need to take your pink slip to the post office for verification.

Best to just put it on direct debit.

Quia · 29/07/2022 09:05

If you really can't do it without the number, would your mother really object to helping you out? If it were my daughter in your situation, I certainly wouldn't.

LovelyDaaling · 29/07/2022 09:08

It runs out on Sunday at midnight., so the car is supposed to be taxed before being driven on Monday. There's no grace period now. Hopefully you can renew over the phone today.

ReallyDoc · 29/07/2022 09:12

I think you're overestimating the efficiency of the system. There aren't cameras waiting to catch you on day one. It will be absolutely fine. I think we drove round for a few weeks before I remembered.

TheLoftHatch · 29/07/2022 09:14

Ah, I've been in this situation before - miles away from the letter! Bit of a long shot but is there anyone who has keys/access to your house, who can take a photo of the letter and send it to you? When you renew online, I think it's pretty much automatic.

Failing that, give the DVLA a call. I think you might have till midnight but they will let you know for sure!

ReallyDoc · 29/07/2022 09:23

Gosh you're all very well behaved and efficient. I would just wing it and do it when you get home. I'm sure the DVLA wish their system was able to catch you the minute your car leaves the house but given the thousands of untaxed vehicles on the roads I doubt that v much.

goldfinchonthelawn · 29/07/2022 09:25

LegoStuckInMyFootAgain · 29/07/2022 00:12

Not got a scoobie I'm afraid. Could you give DVLA a call to see if they can do anything without bits of paper if you explain the situation?
DVLA vehicle tax service
Telephone: 0300 123 4321
24-hour service

I agree - this. But get your husband to do it and explain extenuating circumstances.

Etinoxaurus · 29/07/2022 09:25

seramum · 29/07/2022 08:20

This reminds me, a few years back I taught an autistic kid who was obsessed with his teacher's cars. He had memorised all their number plates, and could tell you the history of all the cars. Whether they'd passed their MOTs or not, what they had failed for etc etc. Anyway, one year a colleague has forgotten to tax his car and said student reminded him that it was out of date... Teacher was very embarrassed but thanked the student, who replied "don't worry" and then listed half a dozen other teachers whose car tax was out of date, some by several months. So embarrassed teacher has to send them all an email advising them to get it done.

Student was a lovely lad, and I have fond memories teaching him, but just to reassure that I think it is really quite common, so just renew as soon as you can and you'll be fine,.

Not the point of the thread but that’s such a lovely story!
Flowers @HuffleWoof And good luck for Monday.

LilacLaurel · 29/07/2022 09:31

ReallyDoc · 29/07/2022 09:23

Gosh you're all very well behaved and efficient. I would just wing it and do it when you get home. I'm sure the DVLA wish their system was able to catch you the minute your car leaves the house but given the thousands of untaxed vehicles on the roads I doubt that v much.

This!

Mine was untaxed for about 8 weeks once, nothing happened. I know quite a few others who have done similar too, if the ANPR cameras automatically sent fines to people then we wouldn't have all the untaxed vehicles that we do, and I doubt if you passed a police car on Monday and it pinged up on their system they would pull you over as they would see it was only a few hours overdue (and they have much better things to be doing anyway).

Ohthatsexciting · 29/07/2022 09:37

seramum · 29/07/2022 08:20

This reminds me, a few years back I taught an autistic kid who was obsessed with his teacher's cars. He had memorised all their number plates, and could tell you the history of all the cars. Whether they'd passed their MOTs or not, what they had failed for etc etc. Anyway, one year a colleague has forgotten to tax his car and said student reminded him that it was out of date... Teacher was very embarrassed but thanked the student, who replied "don't worry" and then listed half a dozen other teachers whose car tax was out of date, some by several months. So embarrassed teacher has to send them all an email advising them to get it done.

Student was a lovely lad, and I have fond memories teaching him, but just to reassure that I think it is really quite common, so just renew as soon as you can and you'll be fine,.

Out of interest @seramum how on earth would he have known all this stuff! It’s not recorded why you have failed an mot.

lapasion · 29/07/2022 09:39

I forgot to change my DD details when I moved to a new bank and was without car tax for a couple of months. They eventually sent me a letter and I think I got a small late payment fee but there was no big fine or anything. I mean you could call the DVLA if you’re worried but their phone lines are awful at the moment. Relax and sort it when you’re home.

alnawire · 29/07/2022 09:40

It won't run out at midnight on Monday. Monday is the 1st. It will expire midnight Sunday, because tax is billed monthly. Always.

alnawire · 29/07/2022 09:41

I agree - this. But get your husband to do it and explain extenuating circumstances.

You don't need to explain extenuating circumstances. The person in the phone won't be interested. It's a simple 'don't have the letter, can I tax me car please?' call. No reason to make it a big deal.

alnawire · 29/07/2022 09:42

@Ohthatsexciting

You just need the registration number of a car to look up these details online, including the MOT.

CoastalWave · 29/07/2022 09:43

Ring and get it set up on monthly direct debit. Then you never need to worry about it.

LilacLaurel · 29/07/2022 09:44

@Ohthatsexciting yes it is recorded, you can see it online

LilacLaurel · 29/07/2022 09:45

@Ohthatsexciting should have added the link, www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

justasking111 · 29/07/2022 09:46

My DIL did this totally forgot her mot Three months later she remembered. She renewed with no issues

seramum · 29/07/2022 09:52

Yeah it does @Ohthatsexciting. It looks a bit like the photo attached. Never knew of the website until said student told me all about it. However, it is very useful if you are buying a second hand car. I used it a lot when purchasing my daughter's first car.

Bollocks I've ballsed up