Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

mikeC · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 3:34 pm Post subject: DVLA fails again!

Anyone else still having problems licencing an Historic vehicle?
I received my V11 Reminder today, but on trying to re-licence on line was told that DVLA was unable to complete the application because they had no record of a valid MOT.
Quite right: it is a pre-1960 vehicle which is exempt from MOT!
I tried to ring the so-called DVLA Hot Line, but after selecting the appropriate options, I was left with a dead line...
So I trotted down to the local Post Office, which my Renewal Notice assures me will accept my application accompanied by Form V112... but the Post Office no longer has copies of V112; I have to print it off from my computer!
Back home, print and complete V112, back to the Post Office, stand in the queue or ten minutes, spend another twenty minutes whilst they fail to get it through the system, and I come home defeated.
I then try to contact DVLA through their website, but the only means of contact appears to be by selecting a series of options which become less and less appropriate as I travel the system.
Does anyone have a DVLA phone number which works? I have tried 0300 123 4321 and 0300 123 9000 without any success...

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4232 Location: South Cheshire

Mike

Today I have just gone through exactly the same saga, fortunately I did print the V112 off at home. I have previously taxed the car online without an MOT for the last 3 years, without issue.

I did get through to the DVLA on the phone (although not on the number that they give you online when the "no MOT process ended"message comes up)... the woman at the DVLA could see my car was made in 1958, but she could not tax it over the phone ?

One other concern is that if the V11 is flagging a requirement for an MOT, then will Police in car ANPR's?

Once I got to the PO is was all straight forward, but like you its a trip I shouldn't of had to make.

Dave

mikeC · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 4:24 pm Post subject:

Hi Dave,

I feel slightly better to learn that I'm not the only one!

What phone number did you use? And are you saying that with the completed V112 the Post Office was able to process the renewal?

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7080 Location: Derby

It would be interesting to establish what value this non payment so called "tax" has in law? I assume until a precedent is set through the courts we have to assume that the DVLA are legally entitled to demand the process is followed?

The likelihood is that any refusal to pay one of their fines for non compliance of their valueless process due to their own inefficiency will result in the DVLA backing down rather than have them get thrown out of court.

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

I just had a problem with DVLA, I bought the Manta, then tried to SORN it using the new keeper slip, the 10 digit number req, was 9 digits long..... So I emailed them, the reply came back that i could tax it at a post office, but couldn't sorn it until I had a V5 as at that point I didn't own it. How does that work? When I sorned on receipt of my V5, it was from 8 days after I had bought the car ie the end of October, so technically I am in breach of their new rules for not taxing/sorning a newly aquired car. It's a no win situation.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4232 Location: South Cheshire

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22780 Location: UK

I noticed that the renewal for the '24 Dodge this month, advised that an MOT was required, despite having renewed without an MOT successfully in the past.

I went online and tried to "tax" it anyway, and - to my surprise - had no problem. I was fully expecting to have to visit the P.O. and fill out the MOT exemption form already mentioned. Very odd.

RJ
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Peter_L · Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2015 7:01 pm Post subject:

We have a totally different system over here. Although each Province has its own licence characters and plates, it is pretty much the same.

A plate doesn't age, it belongs to the owner and moves to whatever vehicle one buys. Each year there is a sticker to buy and adhere to the plate.

Renewing is easy, done by many people on line and the sticker arrives in 7-10 days. If one renews in the last few days of the month, just keep a copy of the online receipt.

New Brunswick has annual Safety Inspection and a 1.5" coloured sticker goes on the windshield.

Being of an age when I can remember the archaic performance of going along to the Local Car Tax Office, waiting in line while each disc was slowly written out, then the post office system that was a little better and now it seems a huge complicated make work system seems to exist in the UK.

Here if one has a car and you don't use it on the road, there is nothing to do. If you decide to use it, just enter the plate details pay the money and get a sticker.

Why on earth someone made a the decision back in late '62 to bring in a date letter I always thought was unnecessary. The Vin# gives the age and if it doesn't have a modern Vin who really cares .

Richard H · Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 2150 Location: Lincolnshire, UK

I tried to tax my A40 Somerset online and it wouldn't let me, saying there was no valid MoT. I then printed off and filled in the MoT exemption form and took it to the better of the two local post offices. The two ladies behind the counter were most confused at the documents I presented but the confusion was mostly at which buttons to press on the computer to allow the car to be retaxed. Eventually we got there though, and the Austin was taxed for another 12 months. I'll have to print out another form next year, as I kept it in the glovebox for months but the windscreen leaks badly and the document was ruined.
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Richard Hughes

baconsdozen · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 1119 Location: Under the car.

I just bought a modern car and had to go through the farce of taxing a vehicle that was in fact already taxed by its previous owner. The goverment have in effect been paid tax twice for the same month for every car that changes hands.
A rip off.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

ka · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 600 Location: Orkney.

I wonder if more used car sales now happen at the end/beginning of the month to avoid the 'double' payment.
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KA

Better three than four.

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4232 Location: South Cheshire

mikeC · Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2015 9:57 am Post subject:

Theoretically, the vehicle remains licenced until DVLA receives notification of change of ownership, so there is going to be a day or two, whilst the notification is in the post, when the vehicle is still licenced to the previous owner.
I wouldn't like to argue the case in court, though Confused

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4232 Location: South Cheshire

I suspect that most folk don't really care; if the typical sale price for a used car is between £10k -£20k, and typical tax is £200 per year, the the 1 month tax is insignificant , it's more likely hitting the younger pooulation more , who will probably spend less than £10k on a used car...

Dave