What happens if you accidentally drive your car with no road tax or mot
So someone had insurance on their car and didn't know their road tax or mot ran out will they be punished for this? They genuinely didn't know and had insurance.
Original post by Rohan007best
So someone had insurance on their car and didn't know their road tax or mot ran out will they be punished for this? They genuinely didn't know and had insurance.
The law requires that vehicles used on public roads have road tax and (if they're old enough) have a valid MOT certificate. The law does not care where the owner knew whether these we're in place or not.
Having said that, if "someone" was not stopped by the police whilst actually committing these offences, then the chances of a prosecution are very low. (Note that if the car is parked in the street it's still being used on the public road, technically.)
So get the MOT and tax sorted as soon as possible. If you can't, for some reason, then park it off the road (e.g. on a driveway) and complete a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) to let the authorities know it's off the road temporarily.
If they didn't get caught? unless they broke another law that got them investigated, they probably wont have any future repercussion with it. If they get pulled over? Most likely will result in 6 points on your license, a reasonably large fine (£300+) and getting your car taken away and possibly crushed. My dad nearly had this happen on an incorrectly insured car, and got to keep the car on a loophole allowed by an empathetic police officer. Most officers would not let that slide. Get it insured, taxed and if required MOT'd before driving it again. Road tax and insurance can be done online, an MOT will have to be done at an MOT centre. If you book an MOT in advance and have a document of proof you are allowed to drive your car to the centre without having the MOT, but make sure to have your paperwork ready because it will flag up and possibly get you pulled over.
As noted above, many motoring offences do not require intent. They are offences of strict liability.
Regardless of the currency of an MoT certificate, it is an offence to drive a car which is not roadworthy (because it has some safety critical defect). For example, a car that passed an MoT test last week is unroadworthy if since then its brakes have failed, or an accident has rendered the car structurally unsound. If a car is roadworthy then, as mentioned above, it may be driven any distance to a pre-booked MoT test.
If your car is taxed it must also be insured. To store a car untaxed and uninsured off road you make a declaration online that the car is off road (SORN).
If driving a car that is not yours, or letting someone else drive your car, check that you or the other person (as the case may be) is insured to drive the car. Allowing someone to drive your car when that person is not insured to do so is an offence. Most comprehensive insurance policies cover you to drive a car that is not yours with the owner's permission, although usually the cover is limited to liability to third parties.
Once a vehicle is forty years old, it does not have to pass an MoT test (this is a daft idea), and (more sensibly) it can become exempt from tax and the ULEZ charge (but not the London Congestion Charge). For the young driver who has some mechanical sympathy and doesn't mind doing repairs or paying for repairs, driving a classic car or riding a classic motorbike can make more financial sense than you might suppose. What you may lack in air bags you can make up for in fun, eco sustainability, and ability to see out of the car, and an old car can be fitted with a modern ICE unit which includes satnav, a reversing camera, and so on.
Regardless of the currency of an MoT certificate, it is an offence to drive a car which is not roadworthy (because it has some safety critical defect). For example, a car that passed an MoT test last week is unroadworthy if since then its brakes have failed, or an accident has rendered the car structurally unsound. If a car is roadworthy then, as mentioned above, it may be driven any distance to a pre-booked MoT test.
If your car is taxed it must also be insured. To store a car untaxed and uninsured off road you make a declaration online that the car is off road (SORN).
If driving a car that is not yours, or letting someone else drive your car, check that you or the other person (as the case may be) is insured to drive the car. Allowing someone to drive your car when that person is not insured to do so is an offence. Most comprehensive insurance policies cover you to drive a car that is not yours with the owner's permission, although usually the cover is limited to liability to third parties.
Once a vehicle is forty years old, it does not have to pass an MoT test (this is a daft idea), and (more sensibly) it can become exempt from tax and the ULEZ charge (but not the London Congestion Charge). For the young driver who has some mechanical sympathy and doesn't mind doing repairs or paying for repairs, driving a classic car or riding a classic motorbike can make more financial sense than you might suppose. What you may lack in air bags you can make up for in fun, eco sustainability, and ability to see out of the car, and an old car can be fitted with a modern ICE unit which includes satnav, a reversing camera, and so on.
(edited 1 month ago)
People saying if you don't get caught in the act you're safe, this is NOT true at all.
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
Original post by StriderHort
People saying if you don't get caught in the act you're safe, this is NOT true at all.
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
Hi so I passed a car in the morning of that day and they didn't pull me over. I passed a few cameras aswel and didn't receive anything this was about a week ago should I report this incident. I literally got everything up to date road tax and MOT as soon as I realised
You'd need to wait at least 3wks to have more comfort that you are in the clear.
Original post by Rohan007best
Hi so I passed a car in the morning of that day and they didn't pull me over. I passed a few cameras aswel and didn't receive anything this was about a week ago should I report this incident. I literally got everything up to date road tax and MOT as soon as I realised
I wouldn't bother reporting it, esp if you already sorted it all, you either got away with it or you didn't. If it was only a few days the database might not have been updated in time, but that's just a guess.
ANPR cameras are not the same as speed cameras btw, they a lot rarer and harder to spot.
Original post by StriderHort
People saying if you don't get caught in the act you're safe, this is NOT true at all.
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
You appear to over-estimate the resources available to the police and the DVLA. The UK is not yet Airstrip One. Passing a camera does not automatically result in the camera making a record of your passing, and if a record is made it is not automatically acted on.
It is possible to get away with all sorts of motoring offences, and countless people do so on a daily basis. This is of course not a reason to commit offences, and in particular driving without insurance is a selfish, anti-social action.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Stiffy Byng
You appear to over-estimate the resources available to the police and the DVLA. The UK is not yet Airstrip One. Passing a camera does not automatically result in the camera making a record of your passing, and a record if made it is not automatically acted on.
It is possible to get away with all sorts of motoring offences, and countless people do so on a daily basis. This is of course not a reason to commit offences, and in particular driving without insurance is a selfish, anti-social action.
It is possible to get away with all sorts of motoring offences, and countless people do so on a daily basis. This is of course not a reason to commit offences, and in particular driving without insurance is a selfish, anti-social action.
Yeah I know it's not that cut & dried, but the info is pretty much on a plate for them, as said I've had multiple letters based on this myself so I would always assume it's likely to be spotted sooner or later.
Original post by Rohan007best
Hi so I passed a car in the morning of that day and they didn't pull me over. I passed a few cameras aswel and didn't receive anything this was about a week ago should I report this incident. I literally got everything up to date road tax and MOT as soon as I realised
IIRC tickets can take up to 14 days to be processed and sent out
Original post by Rohan007best
So someone had insurance on their car and didn't know their road tax or mot ran out will they be punished for this? They genuinely didn't know and had insurance.
If you are the registered keeper of the vehicle, then it's your personal responsibility to check all these things. As others said, there's no excuse and the police are unlikely to be very sympathetic if you're caught.
In future, you can check the Tax / MOT status of any UK registered vehicle in the link below, and it will even tell you when the current Tax / MOT expires.
https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/
Original post by StriderHort
People saying if you don't get caught in the act you're safe, this is NOT true at all.
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
1 - As soon as you pass a fixed ANPR camera you're basically caught - letter in the mail
2 - If a police cars own ANPR catches you and they don't pull you, it doesn't mean you got away, it likely means they're busy and you'll get the letter later.
3 - Staff also check streets/parked cars regularly, you're risking coming back to a clamped and fined car at any time, also nothing at all stopping the police and DVLA proactively chasing up cars that show on the database as uninsured/taxed/mot'd without being SORNed, easy pickings for them really.
I've never been stopped but had letters from the DVLA regarding no tax (camera) and the police for no insurance (camera) - so I know they happen (screwup with a car I sold)
I second point 3 on here.
Last year, I bought my current car (Porsche Boxster)... but having had my previous car (Audi S3) stolen from outside my house, I put it in storage for a couple of months, while I sorted somewhere safe to keep it (I don't live in the best part of London lol). I didn't bother taxing it in that time, as it was off the road... but I didn't think it was worth getting it SORN.
A month after having completed the purchase, I got a warning letter telling me to get it taxed or risk fines or getting it confiscated... despite probably never actually being picked up by an ANPR camera.
(edited 1 month ago)
Making a SORN declaration takes under one minute online. Taxing a vehicle online takes about two minutes.
Hi the problem is the car I've had it for a year and realised it wasn't even registered in my name the dealership said they were gonna do that but I never got my logbook then one day I found out it hasn't even been registered to me yet.
Original post by Rohan007best
Hi the problem is the car I've had it for a year and realised it wasn't even registered in my name the dealership said they were gonna do that but I never got my logbook then one day I found out it hasn't even been registered to me yet.
Updating V5 details takes about a minute online.
Even where a V5 is missing, a new one can easily be obtained. There is a charge for this but it's not huge.
NB, motor insurers sometimes require a policy holder to be the registered keeper of the vehicle insured.
Keeping things up to date with DVLA is not difficult. Changes of keeper, and changes of address should be notified soon after they occur. On occasion (I think not often) people are prosecuted for not notifying changes re vehicles and driving licences.
NB, motor insurers sometimes require a policy holder to be the registered keeper of the vehicle insured.
Keeping things up to date with DVLA is not difficult. Changes of keeper, and changes of address should be notified soon after they occur. On occasion (I think not often) people are prosecuted for not notifying changes re vehicles and driving licences.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Even where a V5 is missing, a new one can easily be obtained. There is a charge for this but it's not huge.
NB, motor insurers sometimes require a policy holder to be the registered keeper of the vehicle insured.
Keeping things up to date with DVLA is not difficult. Changes of keeper, and changes of address should be notified soon after they occur. On occasion (I think not often) people are prosecuted for not notifying changes re vehicles and driving licences.
NB, motor insurers sometimes require a policy holder to be the registered keeper of the vehicle insured.
Keeping things up to date with DVLA is not difficult. Changes of keeper, and changes of address should be notified soon after they occur. On occasion (I think not often) people are prosecuted for not notifying changes re vehicles and driving licences.
Hi but I was under the impression it was all done this was my first car I bought it when I was 19 and now at 20 I realised I needed to do MOT and road tax and when I was doing it I saw you needed the logbook I didn't know about any of this
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Making a SORN declaration takes under one minute online. Taxing a vehicle online takes about two minutes.
Not sure if that comment was aimed at me... but if it was, for the record, I did tax it within about 5-10mins of receiving the letter. It wasn't a big deal, just an oversight and an unwise assumption on my part; and the only reason I posted this was to back-up the point @StriderHort made that these things can catch up with you and bite you on the posterior if you don't deal with them at the time.
Anyway, this thread isn't about me, so back to the OP.
Original post by Rohan007best
Hi the problem is the car I've had it for a year and realised it wasn't even registered in my name the dealership said they were gonna do that but I never got my logbook then one day I found out it hasn't even been registered to me yet.
If you buy a new car, you should get the V5 document within no more than a couple of weeks. If you haven't received it, then you need to chase whoever sold you the car and find out what's going on. Admittedly this is a worst case scenario , but what if a dodgy seller were to claim YOU were the one who was dishonest?
That could result in all sorts of trouble / headache for you.
Original post by Rohan007best
Hi but I was under the impression it was all done this was my first car I bought it when I was 19 and now at 20 I realised I needed to do MOT and road tax and when I was doing it I saw you needed the logbook I didn't know about any of this
Well you know now, don't you?!?
Assuming it's all sorted now, just take this as a lesson learnt, and remember to stay on top of things in future. Take a note of that link from my first post, so you know when these things are due for renewal, and you can make the appropriate checks if & when you purchase your next car.
It's not worth risking getting unnecessary fines and points / endorsements on your licence that will inevitably increase your insurance (already extortionate for young people, as it is), and possibly ultimately cost you your license. Not to mention a clean driving licence is a good asset and is a requirement for some jobs.
There should be adulting classes at schools, as it appears that some parents do not explain adulting to teenagers.
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What happens if you accidentally drive your car with no road tax or mot
