One point that I think is quite important is that under the current system you remain the "registered keeper" until DVLA change their records - you have no ability to control this. To me it looks like they "forget" to do this - then leave it a LONG time (in my case 10 months) before they contact you - that's far too long and seems to be more because after this amount of time it can be expected that anyone scrapping a car has long forgot the details / lost any paperwork like recorded delivery slips, if they used them. Basically the current system is flawed in that it gives DLVA an incentive to make mistakes - if they had changed the details when informed they wouldn't be able to ask for an 'out of court settlement' (which was the first letter received) or be able to issue "fines" or start court cases. Add to this that a court case is zero cost to them - the costs come from "public funds" and they have staff lawyers who they have to pay anyway so it's worth their while NOT to change the "registered keeper". I have no doubt I'm the not only one - I'm pretty sure that many many people will have simply paid the "out of court settlement" thinking they made a mistake, forgot to tell DVLA etc, and that will be the end of it - I can't see that happening as by paying the "out of court settlement" the person has effectively admitted guilt - so if the DVLA send another letter next month or next year whoever paid has a harder job defending themselves as they are now a "repeat offender". I managed to get a letter from the scrap yard confirming they scrapped the car - the "debt collection company" rejected this even though it shows the car was scrapped (not given to the scrap yard but actually dismantled) before a) the previous tax had expired b) the date on which they say I was the registered keeper of an unlicensed vehicle - that what made me realize they are not doing this because I didn't tell them (failure to notify) they are sticking with insisting I was the registered keeper and on that they could be correct - but only because they did not update their system. Good luck with your case One point is that once I worked out the game I started copying the Secretary of State for Transport in on the mails, inc the one where I noted the flaw in the system - doubt if he'll take any notice of my lone letter so if ANYONE is having the same problem I'd suggest they also copy him - he's the only one that can really change the system.

Yep - same here - see thread "fined for not taxing scrap car"

Thought I'd share my problem Eleven months ago I scrapped a car - just before it's tax expired. Sent off the bit of the registration doc for this - a few weeks later got call from DVLA - don't know exactly what was said as wife handled it and it was quite a while ago, but at the end everything seemed ok - like they said "did you scrap this car" "yes" "ok then bye". Start of March I got a letter from "Inter-Credit International" accusing me of ignoring letters from DVLA and offering the opportunity to agree to an "out of court settlement" to avoid being taken to court for being the registered keeper of an unlicenced vehicle. I replied - sent them a letter from the scrap yard confirming when the car was scrapped and stated that there were no "ignored letters". They replied telling me that the information I supplied did not release me from the "fine" I replied pointing out that this was the first time a "fine" was mentioned - previously it had been an offer to reach an out of court settlement and asking which court had imposed the fine. They replied insisting I pay the "fine" immediately. I believe what happened was DVLA "lost" the info I sent them to show the car had been scrapped - by losing it and not updating the system I am still the registered keeper, even though I am only shown as this because DVLA didn't do their job - they then left it almost a year to give me chance to lose things. Not only do I believe it's basically a 'set up' to gain money I've said so in the reply the reply I just sent them with the Secretary of State for Transport on copy - though I used words like "flawed system" "possible incentive to perform duties that can be expected from them". Don't know what's coming next (maybe case for "libel" DVLA vs me) - do know it could be more interesting as I first though as technically they could be right - I could be the "registered keeper", but if I am it's only because DVLA didn't update their system. My main worry is that I don't think we copied or sent by Recorded Delivery the info to DVLA - we were moving house at the time and too be honest as we'd just moved back to the UK and DVLA had been good at sending the registration documents of the car and it's replacement (ie two cars) so it didn't worry me at the time.