DVLA Lost new Keeper Doc - Now cant tax Vehicle!

[johnhn]

Here's my DVLA story.

Bought a car in June - the dealer, with whom I have dealt for several years, completed the paperwork on the spot. I've dealt with him before, he's been servicing my car for years, and I have no complaints, or reasons to doubt him.

I'm a rather busy chap - self-employed, kids, etc...

The tax on this car expired on Friday. I dug out the paperwork - neatly filed, folks! - to get the MOT, insurance cert, and V5.

No V5. No license reminder either. Oh well, I'll use the new keeper's thingy. Oh, it's expired. Oh well, I'll go to the post office anyway. At the post office "I'm sorry sir...you need to contact the DVLA. You should be able to license your vehicle at your local DVLA office" (only about 40 miles away, inaccessible without a - road legal - car, which, of course, currently, I do not have).

I phoned DVLA and explained my situation. I asked if - as I haven't actually received a V5 - their records show me as being the registered keeper. They couldn't tell me, as "the systems are down. You could try calling again on Tuesday".

So, in theory, I could tax my vehicle by driving to my nearest DVLA office (which is, of course, shut, except when I'm at work), except I can't drive there legally, and may discover on arrival that I am not the registered keeper anyway, and thus will be unable to license the vehicle.

Meanwhile, in the DVLA guide to vehicle licensing, I read that the above doesn't actually apply, and even if I am the registered keeper, if I don't have the V5 or V11 (reminder) I will be unable to license the vehicle until I receive my V5. If I am the registered keeper, but don't have the V5, that means the change of ownership has been processed but I have not received the V5 - either DVLA have sent it, and it has been "lost" in the post, or, they just haven't. Either way, I have to pay £25 for someone else's incompetence, and leave my car on the drive, useless, for up to 6 weeks (what century is this?) whilst my application is processed.

What a load of crap!

Meanwhile, my kids have to go to school on Monday, and, you guessed it, the only way to get there is by car.

I also tried viewing my vehicle's details on-line, to see if I was in fact the registered keeper, but these details were unavailable. I also tried to license my vehicle on-line (in which case, despite being on verifiable record as having paid the necessary license, my vehicle would only be either illegal/unusable until the stupid bit of paper you have to stick in your windscreen, despite computerised records, arrived "withing 5 working days").

Ridiculous system. Utter b*****s.

[patdavies]

I suggest that you read back over the rest of the thread.

If you are the vehicle's registered keeper, then you can obtain the VED from a DVLA local office by using a V62 (application for duplicate V5 - cost £25).

There is no need to drive there - you can do it all via post.

It is no somebody else's incompetence, you are in this situation because you failed to chase up the V5 before or at the expiry of the New Keeper's Certificate in August.

[johnhn]

the DVLA have not supplied me with a V5 and can not tell me who is the registered keeper. How incompetent of me. Here, have £25 whilst I keep my car off the road for a month or so.

[johnhn]

I see you have 1677 posts, so I'm sure you know one of the basic reasons for the existence of this site - people fed up with having to do the jobs of people paid to do the job in the first place, who have either done it badly, or not at all. So far this year, apart from the job of husband, architect and parent, I have had to do the job of HMRC, my agent, ebay, my car insurance company, the solicitors appointed by them, my household insurance company, my builders, and my bank. So excuse me for failing in my responsibility to ensure DVLA do theirs on time. So much "voluntary" work, so little time.

[patdavies]

It says quite clearly on S.10 of the V5C

The Section is valid for the New Keeper (Buyer) to re-license the vehicle for up to 2 months from the date of purchase. If the Registration Certificate is not received after 6 weeks please contact DVLA

6 weeks; not nearly 6 months and when the tax is due

[johnhn]

so what? it's not my job, it's theirs. i'm busy doing my job. what are they doing?

let me put it another way.

supposing the car had 2 months tax on it when i bought it, and i had contacted the DVLA under the same circumstances, but after 6 weeks (i.e. with 2 weeks of tax left). i'm waving all the documents i have, plus the required fee at them, but they still can't tell me who is the registered keeper, and won't let me tax it. so, assuming i either have to go through the whole process again (i.e.notify them of change of keeper) and all goes smoothly (i.e.they don't lose the documents in the post/not send them at all, again) the process could still take 2-4 weeks longer than my remaining unexpired tax, during which time i would be unable to use the vehicle. you seriously consider that to be acceptable?

What useful purpose does this serve? I can understand how it would be a reasonable incentive to ensure documentation is sent promptly to DVLA, but when it isn't received promptly from DVLA...

Would it not be reasonable for the supplement to be valid indefinitely, or at least capable of allowing you to license and use your vehicle - providing new details had been sent to DVLA - until superceded by a full log-book?

*edit* And finally...

The T&C's of my current account say "quite clearly"....well, you know the rest, I'm sure.

[patdavies]

Originally Posted by johnhn

supposing the car had 2 months tax on it when i bought it, and i had contacted the DVLA under the same circumstances, but after 6 weeks (i.e. with 2 weeks of tax left). i'm waving all the documents i have, plus the required fee at them, but they still can't tell me who is the registered keeper, and won't let me tax it.

But they will let you obtain VED in that scenario. The new keeper's certificate is valid for 2 months (and you can apply for tax 2 weeks early anyway).

By which time, had you complained, you should have the V5C

[johnhn]

Originally Posted by patdavies

But they will let you obtain VED in that scenario. The new keeper's certificate is valid for 2 months (and you can apply for tax 2 weeks early anyway).

By which time, had you complained, you should have the V5C

and if I needed to sell the car?

[gwc1000]

Hi, if you apply for a new V5 now, it won't cost you anything. Just staple the green slip (expired or not) to the application form and the cost is zero. Admittedly until you receive the new V5 you cannot tax the vehicle.

[gwc1000]

Originally Posted by johnhn

and if I needed to sell the car?

You are legally allowed to sell the car at anytime if you don't have a V5

[johnhn]

Originally Posted by gwc1000

Hi, if you apply for a new V5 now, it won't cost you anything. Just staple the green slip (expired or not) to the application form and the cost is zero. Admittedly until you receive the new V5 you cannot tax the vehicle.

How so?

[gwc1000]

Hi. If you have the green slip and a V5 has never been issued in your name you can apply for a registration document on a V62 and tick the box where it says (the V5) "was signed by me to notify acquisition but I have not received a replacement" If you then look further down on the form it says:

The fee does not need to be paid if you can meet the criteria below. For further information see note D overleaf.

❑

I am the new keeper and have the new keeper’s supplement (V5/2 or V5C/2) from the

Registration Certificate. (This MUST be attached to this application form.)
❑

The last Registration Certificate was destroyed by the insurance company because the
vehicle is categorised as “C” salvage.

Tick the first box and there is no fee.

[johnhn]

Brilliant! It's not what the DVLA told me of course... ...but I prefer this! Many thanks.

[gwc1000]

Hi, johnhn. In your circumstances I would suggest you take a copy of the V62 with the green slip attatched. We all know how DVLA can "lose" things.
Regards