We brought our NA 1.8iS back from France and stored it here. After 8+ years it’s MOT’d and insured but is still wearing French plates and we’re simply waiting for the DVLA to register her back onto her original UK plates. Until that is done, she’s not officially taxed although this is simply waiting for DVLA too. We haven’t heard anything from DVLA and their online information seems dated including having to send a cheque to cover their fee which I did and which took ages to find and which hasn’t been cashed in the last couple of weeks yet.
Thing is, we discovered yesterday that DVLA are going on strike for 15 days straight very soon.
Can anyone tell me or point me to accurate information that will let me know if we can use the car in the meantime or does the car have to remain banged up in a garage again until the DVLA sort out the paperwork?
Quick update…I’ve just checked online on the DVLA site which claims that it’s currently not taxed or MOT’d and that the MOT ran out in June 2008 (when we took her to France) despite her successfully passing the MOT three weeks ago so I guess we can’t drive her.
You maybe wont get a mile before the Police “ping” you passing by. Then you get “kippered”. And they can cube your car pronto.
Even if insured +MOTd no UK Tax could well invalidate it.
Insurance companies can walk off any chance they get…so if you ding or injure somebody you could end up with not only in Court but then private prosecution by the third party…which would leave you standing in your underpants at best. Which I’ve seen happen twice in 45 years.
Just as dodgy as drunk driving really. Plus they could impound the car and they are not really that nice about it where it goes in the pound.
My son trains “them” BTW. They really love their work.
personally, even if they say you can drive your NA before you get the paperwork I wouldn’t risk it!
it doesn’t happen very often but they can crush an untaxed vehicle by the side of the road!
after all, if you are unlucky enough to drive by a DVLA PR stunt where there are crushing cars they are not going to listen to your explanation, it will be “computer says no” and your car will be gone.
and you probably won’t even be able to sue them afterwards either!
Sledge hammers, or do they drive over them in monster trucks?
Personally I would ignore the online systems and just phone them for an update. Definitely mention the cheque having not been cashed, ask them they got it incase you need to cancel it through your bank and send a new one etc.
My dodgy neighbours get away with driving around for months and even years with no tax, MoT or presumably insurance, so the police can’t be on the ball.
I’ve twice forgotten to pay tax for weeks after renewing the MOT, didn’t seem to make any difference. Always so relieved to pass on the free second attempt after my DIY repairs that it had slipped my mind.
I wouldn’t do it deliberately, at least not without permission in writing if there were a valid reason.
Thanks all. I’m not one for taking chances so she’ll stay in the garage.
the dvla occasionally do PR stunts where they have a car crusher mounted on an hgv trailer
its very very rare but it would really suck if you were unlucky enough to get your classic car destroyed!
This reminds me of what happened with my NC one evening a couple of weeks after I bought it, having been through a couple of dealers over a few months without tax or MOT or insurance.
So I had a brand-new tax disc, brand new insurance, brand-new MOT, all with the same issue date as change of ownership on the 15th of August.
Fortunately this was the very last month of tax discs being issued.
I was driving to my first MX-5 Owners Club meeting and noticed blue lights approaching in my rear view mirror, I expected them to go past on the dual carriageway, but no, it was me they were after!
Fortunately there was a lay-by and I pulled in.
Their ANPR suggested my car was not legal.
I pointed to the new tax disc, and dug out from the cubby the folder with receipt, insurance and MOT certificates.
They were surprised, and disappointed. “Step out please. Open the boot please. Wait here please.”
I think they were amused watching me unfold out of the lid-up car. One kept me talking while the other fiddled around in their car for a few minutes.
Then he came back and said “Our car’s ANPR system has not updated, but I checked with my phone, you’re OK. Sorry to detain you. Off you go.”
yeah and if you had not have had the paperwork with you they would have given you the full treatment.
in the old days before anpr it would have been the old “producer” to take docs to the cop shop but with now we have anpr I’m pretty sure they give you a fine on the spot and make you get the car towed home if your lucky and their in a good mood if their in a bad mood they just take you and your car down the police station for a little chat! or worse, some of them are zealots and bullies and will give you the maximum treatment possible just to make themselves feel better!
please note I said some not all!!
some police officers are doing good and honest service but there are some who are nothing more than bullies in blue! most are somewhere in the middle!
If you were over here in N. Ireland we’re driving around for months sans tax or mot and the Police gladly looking the other way, the MOT aholes couldn’t run a pi55 up in a brewery, firstly they over used by several years the usable life of special German made scissors jack lifts they use for inspection and it took perhaps 3/4 years to sort that mess out and Covid in the middle of that, the guys who do the mot inspections these days i have on authority know as much about the mechanics of any wheeled vehicle as a dog knows of his father, used to be they needed their full technicans tickets. now anyone will do , A WEE COURSE AND FAIL’’ them ''FOR ANY REASON… even heard of a fail for a Ford fiesta with sticky second phase on the bonnet lock owned by an old widow and just needed scoot of oil…one of them has a sign hanging from the roof saying most profitable depot in Ulster… even so they are running perhaps 4 months behind. I applied for my NA several weeks back when they reminded me it was up in late June first date i could get that suited me was the first week of September Nor was it local its a 70 mile round trip… and anything we have to deal with through Swansea we are definitely on the back foot where any civility or assistance is sought…yes the police orientated shows they have us watching definitely has a stormtrooper type coming across… they put their heart and soul into it except when they bite off more than they chew…W
Eh?
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