dvla

[davethemus]

today i got a letter from some debt collectors advising me to pay an £80 'out of court' settlement as i hadn't taxed a vehicle i sold over a year ago. the letter states as i'm the registered keeper i'm liable, the thing is i sent the appropriate paperwork to the dvla the day after i sold the vehicle, since then i've heard nothing, until today. obviously tomorrow i'll phone them tomorrow and tell them this, what can i expect from them.

sorry for the length of the post and thanks in advance.

 

[renault12ts]

Usually you will get a reply from DVLA when you inform them of a change of ownership.

 

[bennesspipers]

DVLA is run incompetently,early in January i declared a car on SORN, at the end of FEB they sent me a form to tax it,with the legal jargon saying its illegal to have it on the road untaxed. So i rang them up, & the guy said " I dont know why thats happened,we got your SORN form " !!!!!

 

[mbenz76]

I sent my part of the V5 off when I part-ex'd my car at the beginning of the month. It says if you haven't received a letter within 4 weeks telling you that you are no longer responsible for the car then contact them - with a phone number.

3 weeks now and still not heard anything, so I intend to call them bang on week 4 and ask what is going on.

Too many stories where people have got fines etc. from cars they no longer own.

Any why 4 weeks? It doesn't take 4 weeks to receive the slip, issue an automated letter and for me to receive that. It could take 3 days!

 

[Will]

Did you not receive any tax disc reminder forms in the post when the tax would have been due?

If it's still registered to you (as they say it is?) then you should have had one 2/3 weeks before the end of the month when the tax/SORN ran out. Not saying it's your fault or anything btw - just curious

Will

 

[davethemus]

nothing, thats what i don't understand, the first correspondence was this letter.

 

[x332race]

Honest John in Telegraph advises that letters to DVLA regarding change of ownership etc are sent recorded delivery....then you can prove you posted it...

 

[davethemus]

from know on i will

 

[mbenz76]

I considered sending mine Special Delivery, but I am fed up having to spend £5 every time I send a letter and waste time going to the post office just because Royal Mail are a shower of sh*t who can't deliver the mail.

In the end mine went in the post box near my house with a 1st class stamp on because I couldn't be bothered going to the post office which is almost always closed when I am not at work and the ones near work are rammed full when I can get to them in the day. I suspect it's gone the way of most things Royal Mail get their hands on since 3 weeks on I haven't heard anything.

 

[davethemus]

so what response should i expect from the dvla?

 

[Spinal]

Unless you can prove you sent the change of ownership form (and that they received it) - or that you called after a certain period of time, I do believe you are still liable for the vehicle.

This includes not only road tax, but also any speeding tickets (and knowing/identifying who was driving it at the time), parking tickets, etc.

M.

 

[abecketts]

Spinal is I think correct, DVLA are a shower, if you have a receipt for the sale of the vehicle or other documentary evidence, a letter from the new owner confirming when they bought it if you send that to the DVLA and also the debt folks (by recorded delivery) you can probably stay their taking further action. The more evidence you can gather the better for you, if not they will still class you as liable.

 

[Will]

Another obvious question - what is the new owner doing with the vehicle now? Surely he needs to tax it and can't if it's still registered to you?

Will

 

[Palfrem]

Innocent until proved guilty?

Why do we (the public) have to keep proving stuff - should it not be down to the Governments minions to prove that we did'nt.

I'm sure we could all field a witness of good character who will testify we had affixed a First Class stamp and posted the letter.

The Post Office reckon 90 odd % of First Class post alledgedly arrives within 24 hours?

Job done.

 

[s500colin]

surely if you refuse to pay and advise them that you sent off the paperwork they will have to prove in court to the contry

 

[Spinal]

Here it is from the source:

How to notify DVLA if you sell your vehicle : Directgov - Motoring

You must notify the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) immediately of the exact date of sale or transfer of your vehicle using the registration document or certificate. You and the buyer should follow the procedures correctly or you will remain liable for the vehicle until DVLA records have been updated.

M.

 

[chiefski26]

do not reply to the letter.

 

[jonnyboy]

copy bank statement too showing proceeds paid in?