My car tax ran out three months ago where do I stand legally? what should I do?

Question

OK before anybody just attacks me I've had a lot on the past few months including being very ill and I forgot to sort out my tax, in fact I only just remembered on Christmas when I got out of my car at my mums house and noticed my tax was way! out of date...any way my MOT has run out also....I know! I know!, but go easy I'm feeling like sh*t at the moment :(

Where do I stand legally? and what should I do? I'm trying to sort out an MOT and will backdate the tax when I get it(I'm know tax dodger) I was thinking of contacting the DVLA but I'm worried they will just slap me with a grand fine:(

Hi guys thanks for the answers I rang the DVLA this morning and they told me to write to my nearest DVLA office to offer to pay the late tax, she didn't know if I would get a fine or not, I was then put through to there automated SORN system that informed me that due to the discrepancy I would be hearing from the DVLA as I had broken the law(sounded quit ominous :( ) I've been honest with them and said I want to pay the back tax so if they try to screw me with the £1000 fine I wont be happy, £80 fine is fair enough but I think the grand would be a bit extreme so I hope you're right polly, Cory, lol I guess you're American? don't know about the states but we get screwed big time over here on tax especially when it comes to cars :-( InitialDave, cheers for that I hope you re right too good answer mate :-)

Happy new year all :-)

Answer 1

Ok, this happened to a friend of mine too. If you tell them yourself, they'll probably be more lenient - you can expect to have to pay for the back tax over the last three months, and you may also get a small fine (my friend had to pay £80). While the car's not MOT'd, SORN it to keep the DVLA happy.

As long as you're insured, you are legally allowed to drive a car without tax or MOT to a pre-booked MOT appointment, and if it fails, back to wherever you're going to be working on it to get it through the MOT.

My advice would be to say you've been out of the country, that you're terribly sorry, but you didn't realise the MOT and tax had lapsed while you were "away".

I doubt they'll hit you for the full grand on a fine, that's really meant for when people really take the piss with it. If you contact them before the plod spot you, you should be ok.

Answer 2

What on God's green earth is a "car tax", an "MOT", or the DVLA" ?? I've been driving for a long time now and never heard of these terms. Is this some Canadian stuff?

Answer 3

if you bring it to the dvla's attention yourself, you are lest likely to be lumped with a fine.

Answer 4

you should go to the police department to "register" your car. Is important not to have problems with the police.