Car clamped and impounded for being used and kept unlicensed in the UK

[yitoynico]

Sorry i am new to this page and i don't know how it works well.

 

I live in Reading and i brought a Spanish car with Spanish registration on the 8th June 2014.

I brought the car into UK for bringing goodies into my home in Reading.

 

On the 16th June 2014 a police officer stopped my partner when he was driving the car and

the police officer clamped and impounded the car because the car was used in UK without a UK license and UK tax.

 

On the 17th June i paid 260 pound fee for releasing the car from the pound and paying a surety fee.

Then, i was explained that the car needed to be registered in UK or had to be removed from UK immediately.

I took the car back to Spain on the 28th June 2014.

 

On the 21st July i received a letter from the DVLA saying that i had committed an offence as i am the owner of the Spanish car

that was seen on the 16th June 2014 by the police and impounded because the car wasn't licensed in the UK.

The DVLA said that they have intention to take court against me with regard to the offence.

That they offer me to pay an out of court settlement of 247 pounds.

 

I send the DVLA a letter on 24th July 2014 saying that the car was no longer in the UK because i took the car back to Spain on the 28th June 2014

as the car was going to stay in the uk for a short stay.

Therefore, there was no need for them to take me to court.

 

On the 31st July 2014 i received another letter from the DVLA saying that it is an offence to use or keep an unlicensed vehicle in the UK.

That i stated that the car is no longer in the UK but that i still have commited an offence.

That they continue with the intention to take me to court.

 

They say that they offer me a final opportunity to pay the out of court settlement of 247 pounds requested in the previous letter.

That i should pay the 247 pound by 29/08/2014 to avoid court action.

 

Could you help me to please!!

 

I think i have already paid a penalty for keeping the Spanish car in the UK without UK registration and tax.

Would you recommend me to write the DVLA a letter saying that they want to fine me twice for the same offence??

 

Thank you for the advice.

[dx100uk]

2 diff things

they want £247 'fine' for using the car on uk roads

 

you paid the release fee from the pound, not the above fine.

[yitoynico]

Would you recommend me to pay the 247 pound fee to avoid court action? or to go to court?

 

Would you recommend me to write a reply saying that i have already paid the 260 pound fee for releasing the car? do you think it is not paying twice for the same offence??

 

thanks for the advice

[BazzaS]

Would you recommend me to pay the 247 pound fee to avoid court action? or to go to court?

 

Would you recommend me to write a reply saying that i have already paid the 260 pound fee for releasing the car? do you think it is not paying twice for the same offence??

 

thanks for the advice

 

You have had this answered in a previous reply.

 

There are two different sums owing for two different matters.

 

The £260 is a fee to have the car released from impound.

The £247 is a administrative penalty in place of going to court to be prosecuted for having the car unlicensed.

 

You could have not paid to have the car released and had the car crushed, and still be liable for the £247.

 

You chose to pay the impound fees and have the car released but that wasn't paying for the offence of having the car unlicensed.

[i hate bailiffs]

If you want this to go to court and face a much larger fine

 

Just because you have taken the car back to Spain that will not stop action you were using it

On the roads over here

 

Best bet to pay out of court settlement

[yitoynico]

If you want this to go to court and face a much larger fine

 

Just because you have taken the car back to Spain that will not stop action you were using it

On the roads over here

 

Best bet to pay out of court settlement

 

Thank you everybody for your replies, you have been of help

Best to all

[Surfer01]

If the car was taxed in Spain, then there is no issue with using the car in the UK temporary and it does not have to have UK tax etc, but you need to show that your permanent address is in Spain. It seems that the vehicle may not have gone through all the proper channels for importation?