21 replies to this topic

[Shylos]

Not sure if this should go in here or general, apologies if the wrong place.

My Mini has been off the road for a year or so, and due to going away travelling and, I will admin, just being forgetful, I haven't SORNed it.

I tried to get a tax today at the Post Office and they said I have to go to the DVLA office and I will get a fine - anyone know what it is likely to be?

After a bit of research it seems that £80 is the standard but there is talk of a possible £1000, plus CCJs etc.

The other problem is I moved house and hadn't changed the address on the log book (I know, I know, lesson learned...) so any reminders/letters won't have got to me.

I am hoping they will understand the situation and be lenient but... I am wondering how bad it could get.

Anyone had a similar experience?

[Claibo]

Ouch! Sorry to hear, forgetfulness is only a real problem when it starts costing you money!

Hope your fine is at the lower end of the scale!

[Nick04]

I got a £35 fine, was £70 if not paid in 2 weeks!!

[samsfern]

Which reminds me I've got to sorn my mini, lol, and I don't have a mini, lol

[Shylos]

Ouch! Sorry to hear, forgetfulness is only a real problem when it starts costing you money!

Hope your fine is at the lower end of the scale!

Thanks! Yeah normally it just annoys people when I forget to turn up to places, costing money is a whole other ball game!

I got a £35 fine, was £70 if not paid in 2 weeks!!

Sounds about the same as other stuff I have read - I think the problem will only come if it goes up after a long time.

[Nick04]

Might be time to phone dvla, normal take them 3 month to send out fines then up to 3 month before it go's to court so hopefully it want of been to court yet. try tell dvla you moved (need to change address) and not all your mail has been forword to you!, might work

[Shylos]

The DVLA centre isn't far from where I work so i am going to go in monday - figure it'd be good to speak to them in person. It has been longer than 6 months so hoping it hasn't got to the court stage yet

[Nick04]

Good luck!!

[Jamie_hail]

Mine was unsorned for 3 weeks at one point - explain that the car was kept off the road, and you were out of the country at the time of renewal and you should be fine!

[kieranr24]

I forgot to sorn my car for about a year, once I realised I (my girlfriend) wrote them a letter explaining it was my own fault basically eating humble pie. They replied saying thanks for contacting them and if we either sorned it or taxed it with forms they sent then they would not fine me

[puggered]

DVLA clamped my Astra a couple of years ago because they thought my car was parked on a public highway when in fact it was parked in a private parking bay which was off street parking! I called them up to enlighten them of their error but they insisted that they were in the right. They said I could appeal the fine once paid or they would lift the car. I told them that I wasn't paying the fine and they weren't going to lift my car and if they still wanted to persue it then they could take me to court. I cut the clamp off and moved my car on to my property and wedged it between 2 of my other cars so that there was no chance they could attempt to lift it. DVLA never came for the car but instead sent me a letter with a covering fine of £90 for back tax. I replied with a strong letter and never heard from them again on that occasion.

The Clamp!


A few months later I got 4 £80 fines for my other classics as they said that I never declared them as SORN, which I did! I called them up again and they said that they never received the forms, that's not my problem I replied? so I then went on to the internet and done it again this time on their website and printed off the clarification receipts. Needless to say, I got hounded for several months afterwards from various fictitious solicitors and they also threatened to call the bailiffs on me but the only problem with that is in Scotland we don't have bailiffs. I spoke to a friend who is a solicitor and he told me to take no notice because if DVLA were actually serious then they would employ a local solicitor near me to recover any fines.

When I bought my mini in the summer I never received my V5 from DVLA. I contacted the previous owner and she insisted that it was posted out the day after I purchased the car. DVLA claimed that they never received the V5 so I had to fill out a form and then post that off. Fortunately I didn't have to pay for a new document and the new one arrived within a week of me sending it off! The DVLA are one of the worst government departments for inaccuracies hence why they are called up before BBC TV's Watchdog year on year!

[panelbeaterpeter]

If they haven't fined you yet, write them a letter asap explaining it was a genuine mistake and you're very sorry. You might get away with it. I did this and it worked, never got a fine when I should have, technically. In my case it was more months than a year, but still maybe worth a go.

[puggered]

Not sure if this should go in here or general, apologies if the wrong place.

My Mini has been off the road for a year or so, and due to going away travelling and, I will admin, just being forgetful, I haven't SORNed it.

I tried to get a tax today at the Post Office and they said I have to go to the DVLA office and I will get a fine - anyone know what it is likely to be?

After a bit of research it seems that £80 is the standard but there is talk of a possible £1000, plus CCJs etc.

The other problem is I moved house and hadn't changed the address on the log book (I know, I know, lesson learned...) so any reminders/letters won't have got to me.

I am hoping they will understand the situation and be lenient but... I am wondering how bad it could get.

Anyone had a similar experience?

Just register the car in someone else's name then resister it back when you come back off your travels. Personally I wouldn't give the DVLA a wiff of my fart never mind paying a fine. The road fund licence is a rip off anyway...

[Sam14]

Just say you had no idea? Novice to cars etc...

Play dumb in other words. Gets you very far.

Edited by Sam14, 22 October 2011 - 10:56 PM.

[Wil_h]

Just say you had no idea? Novice to cars etc...

Play dumb in other words. Gets you very far.

Ignorance of the law is no defence.

I hadn't SORN'd a car for several year, and in that time I'd moved 3 or 4 times. They finally caught up with me with a fine of £80. I took it on the chin and paid it, why argue if you are in the wrong. If the DVLA are in the wrong, of course you don't pay.

But in this case I think it's unlikely that you'll get away with it, whether it's agenuine mistake or not.