Motor Lawyers Blog – Motoring News

A computer glitch at the DVLA has resulted in thousands of online road fund licence renewals being delayed. Whilst a four day turnaround is promised, many motorists are now being told that it could be 14 days before their tax disc is received. What’s more, the DVLA continues its “no exceptions, no excuses and no escape” approach for untaxed vehicles, with the result that all drivers still awaiting the arrival of their tax disc have been warned not only to not use their vehicle but to remove it from the road as well.

This seems particularly harsh, given that renewals were requested before the old tax disc expired, but to the letter of the law, if there is no current vehicle tax displayed, the DVLA are right and the vehicle should not be on the road. Potential penalties include a fine but the DVLA do have the power to:

1. Wheel clamp vehicles (incurring the motorist in a £200 release fee).
2. To remove the vehicle from the road (£280 release fee) plus £15 per day storage.
3. After 14 days impounded vehicles can be crushed, if not claimed.

Under current rules, if a current tax disc is produced, the DVLA only have to refund £120 of the release fee.

Motorists who have no alternative but to keep their vehicle on the road, can obtain a tax disc immediately from the Post Office and cancel their online renewal.

Related Legal Link
Vehicle Tax

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