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Original poster

Failed to update DVLA about address change & possible speeding ticket

33 replies

britespark1 · 09/01/2018 12:51

On the 19th December I believe I got caught by a mobile speeding camera van. No point making excuses as I only have myself to blame. I've been anxiously checking the post for a notice of prosecution which hadn't yet arrived. My DH is actually the registered keeper (although it's 'my' car as he has a company car) and queried whether we had updated the address in the log book when we moved house (back in Aug 2016!). I have just checked the V5 and despite updating our licenses etc it looks like we didn't update our address on there. I'm worried now I could be in a lot of trouble (or have gotten DH in trouble) as getting caught speeding and then having incorrect details isn't good is it? I've been worried about this anyway just waiting for the ticket to arrive but now to see I've messed up twice by not keeping the DVLA updated is actually making me feel sick. Has anyone any advice please? Obviously we are updating the log book details asap.

OP posts:

PhuntSox · 09/01/2018 13:15

Phone them and ask if there are any speeding tickets?

Original poster

britespark1 · 09/01/2018 13:33

I wasn't sure if you could just ring up and ask that. Worth a call though definitely. It's the uncertainty that's really getting to me.

OP posts:

PhuntSox · 09/01/2018 14:44

I am not sure, you could phone and ask

MyKingdomForBrie · 09/01/2018 14:45

Phone the police district where the camera was. You won’t be in trouble yet as they give you lots of time to reply.

trevortrevorslattery · 09/01/2018 14:49

You can check your driving record online but maybe that won't show up until you have accepted the points/fine. Just in case, it's here:
www.gov.uk/check-driving-information

If not I would just come clean and get in touch with them - it's sure to be far worse if they find out and it doesn't look like you've tried to rectify the situation.

bookgirl1982 · 09/01/2018 14:52

Is your post being redirected? Or ask the new occupant if there has been anything for you?

Original poster

britespark1 · 09/01/2018 17:00

Our redirection finished a couple of months ago. I managed to find an email address for the relevant traffic dept who are actually replying, just asking me for some details first. Really surprised they do this via email but will just be glad to get it dealt with. Thanks for the advice/listening. My anxiety seems to be getting worse so this was really worrying me. Seems daft that a simple email could have been sent a couple of weeks ago. And yes, at least I’m being pro-active so fingers crosses whatever happens isn’t too awful. Thanks again.

OP posts:

trevortrevorslattery · 10/01/2018 12:15

Great

Maddymint · 10/01/2018 12:22

Hi britespark, this exact same thing happened to me. Athough i was caught speeding on the week I moved and changed the keepers details a few weeks later. My speeding fine went to my old address which was a flat and just sat in a communal area, i didn't check as I had a redirection. I registered a formal complaint with Royal Mail but that got me nowhere.

The first thing I had at my new address was a court summons about 8 weeks later so I think it's really vital that you get hold of the people in the correct dept in the county that you got caught speeding in before it gets to this point. You should have a little bit of time.

Good Luck!

Tinty · 10/01/2018 12:41

OP You also need to update your driving license to your new address. I think this may be more important than your log book having the wrong address.

Also have you changed your address for your car insurance? Your car insurance can be invalid if the address is incorrect.

Missonihoni · 10/01/2018 12:44

I would get the letter or form ready today to update your address. Do it as a priority incase any future problems.

Missonihoni · 10/01/2018 12:44

And agree with PP. insurance needs to be changed too.

Original poster

britespark1 · 10/01/2018 17:52

The annoying thing is both my insurance and driving license have got our up to date details on - I just don’t know how the log book got forgotten. I’ve posted the logbook off today to the DVLA to update the address details. The police are now being a bit vague which worries me - one email came completely missing the point that any letters they have sent have gone to an old address and just telling me if I haven’t heard by now it’s probably ok, and then a different one saying they will pass my email on. I’m actually going past my old address this weekend so have decided I’ll embarrass myself by knocking and asking them to let me know if any post has/does show up. Cannot stop kicking myself for being such an idiot about the whole saga!

OP posts:

Original poster

britespark1 · 10/01/2018 17:57

Maddymint, what happened at court??

OP posts:

Maddymint · 10/01/2018 18:09

Sorry, I'm not for one second saying this would happen to you and this is why it's imperative you get that original speeding ticket (if there is one). I'm afraid it didn't go well for me. I spent a long time crying down the phone to various people and wrote several letters which they told me would be read in court and not to go along myself. I wish I had though as i ended up with a £300 fine and 4 points on my license. I have no idea if me weeping in court would have changed that but I should have tried. The whole thing really upset me for a long time as it was through no fault of my own (well apart from the speeding i obviously did that) and it just seemed like no one wanted to listen to (believe) my story. As I say, sorry - this is no means indicative of what will happen to you. I wasn't sure if i should say but you really really need to speak to the people who fined you initially. You've still got time. Is there not a phone number for them at all? I did manage to speak to mine on the phone but it was after the court summons so I was too late.

I really really hope you didn't get caught by the camera and all of this will be forgotten very soon.

Original poster

britespark1 · 10/01/2018 18:16

No I really appreciate you sharing your experience, even though it’s pretty much what I was dreading will happen. I’m a really nervous driver anyway (despite driving for years) and this will probably put me off but at the end of the day it was me that drove too fast and me that forgot to update the DVLA.

I feel like I have bombarded the police a bit with emails the last two days so will hang on a day or two and see what their next response is, then yes I will try and speak to them on the phone. Thanks again.

OP posts:

notapizzaeater · 10/01/2018 18:17

What speed was you doing ? You might have been under the threshold

Trebormints74 · 10/01/2018 18:19

The same thing happened to me! I did attend court and the whole thing got dropped. It was scary going to court . I had to read a statement under oath that I hadn't knowingly not changed my address/ ignored the letters.

Maddymint · 10/01/2018 18:20

Don't let it put you off driving. At the time it felt like the end of the world but I've pretty much forgotten about it now. It was 2010 and the points have gone and I've forgotten about the money. You don't even know for sure you got snapped so try and forget about it for a day or so. Really hope everything ends up ok.

Original poster

britespark1 · 10/01/2018 18:24

Probably around 48 in a 40. It was right before it turned back into a national speed limit road. For ages I had been stuck behind someone doing well below the limit on a previous stretch of NSL and tried to overtake when it became dual carriageway. So stupid and more so to not notice for once everyone else was actually sticking to the limit.

OP posts:

Original poster

britespark1 · 10/01/2018 18:25

Trebor that gives me some hope!

OP posts:

FlippingFoal · 10/01/2018 18:25

Don't fret it. I did EXACTLY the same except in addition to this my photo ID was out of date. I went to court and apologised, asked if my admission would allow for half court costs and they agreed. It was about £120 in total. I then updated everything. They never checked my paperwork! They didn't realise I was at the wrong address and didn't notice my photo ID was out of date - they just dealt with the speeding fine...

If I had done the whole sending the form back and paying online it would likely have flagged that I was at the wrong address and out of date and I would have been in trouble with it. So I took the gamble and hoped that the person in court dealing with me would accept my remorseful attitude and go easy on me and fortunately they did.

Trebormints74 · 10/01/2018 18:43

They told me at the time that the speeding offence would go back to the police for them to decide whether to proceed. I guess they decided it wasn't worth it so i didn't even Fine. 🤞🏽for you

HandbagFan · 10/01/2018 19:35

Theoretically there’s a fine of up to £1,000 for not updating your V5 but this is rarely acted on.

The risk you have is if you were caught, your partner would have been served with documents requiring them to name the driver. There’s 28 days to respond. After this they prosecute for not naming the driver which is more serious than 48 in a 40. It’s a charge under S172 and carries 6 points and a large fine. And this would be your partner not you - they don’t have proof who the driver was because they weren’t named.

All of this is a bit theoretical right now as you don’t know if you were caught, and it’s still within those 28 days, but this is where it’s heading if you do nothing.

Check the old house, follow up agin with the police in a few days, get that V5 updated. If there’s nothing coming your way then breathe a sigh of relief.

If you do have paperwork issues, your partner needs to complete it naming you as the driver then you get the paperwork sent to you. You admit to being the driver and it should qualify for a speed awareness course. £100 and a day of your life and you don’t get points or end up in court. You just need to play by the rules and all will be well.

Original poster

britespark1 · 11/01/2018 09:16

I’ve just had an email from the Camera Ticket Office which informs me that to date, there are no notices issued to the vehicle in question!

OP posts:

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