"I gave the car to a man in the pub"- top five silliest excuses

For many years, car tax dodgers the length and breadth of the UK would rely on the old ‘tax is in the post’ excuse as a way of avoiding taxing their vehicle.  

 

However, with modern technology making it easier than ever for motorists to tax their vehicles, those caught without tax are being forced to become increasingly creative with their excuses. The excuses ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous, including mates who had taken the car for a test drive and not returned it and blaming the weather. The top five silliest excuses offered by motorists during the last year are:

 

1. I gave the car to a man in the pub.
2. My mate took my car for a test drive a year ago, and hasn’t brought it back yet.
3. I did tick the box, but didn’t realise I had to actually send you the form.
4. The weather’s been nice so I haven’t needed to use it. 

5. The letter advises me to ignore any correspondence.

The Agency’s award winning Electronic Vehicle Licensing (EVL) service, which allows motorists to renew tax discs or declare their vehicle off the road online or by telephone, has proved a huge hit with drivers. More than 21.5 million users have already used it. As the service continues to grow in popularity, it is seemingly becoming more and more difficult for motorists to evade taxing their vehicles.

 

Andrew Rhodes, Acting Customer Services Director, DVLA, said: "The days of motorists being able to place a note on their windscreen saying that their tax is in the post as a way of avoiding renewing their tax disc are long gone. Everybody has an image of Del-Boy Trotter leaning on his van with the note on display, but thanks to electronic services from DVLA it is no longer an option for motorists. It’s interesting to note that as technology has helped to make it easier for motorists to tax their vehicles, so the creativity and imagination behind the excuses we are receiving has increased.

 

"Whatever the reasons for people being unable to tax their car in the past, maybe working hours dictated they couldn’t get out to do it during the day, or they mislaid insurance or MOT certificates, they are no longer valid excuses. If you use the online or telephone service, you don’t even need to find your MOT or insurance documents anymore, as we automatically check them for you, which means you no longer have to leave your home or office. Some of the excuses offered certainly showed a degree of quick thinking and no little humour on the part of the motorists, but ultimately, all of them had to face up to the inevitable – there is no excuse for not taxing your vehicle."

 

The online and telephone service is in addition to the existing Post Office relicensing facility, offering more choice for customers. The system allows motorists who prefer to do their business online or by phone to renew their tax disc without the need to locate paper copies of their MOT and insurance certificates. Instead, DVLA sends out a tax reminder to all motorists when their tax is due to expire, containing a reference number which motorists need to quote online or over the phone. DVLA will then electronically check that the vehicle has a valid MOT and valid insurance, and a tax disc will be delivered to the customer by first class post.

 

Andrew Rhodes added: "More than 1 million customers a month are now buying a tax disc or declaring SORN online or by phone, which equates to over one-third of the total driving population. All you need is the reference number we send you and your payment card – it really is that simple. You can use the service at any time of the day or night – in fact, we often see a big spike in use during the Coronation Street advert break."

 

In July 2007, DVLA’s EVL service picked up the Orange Best Use of Technology in Business Award, for the Wales & West Country Region, at the National Business Awards. DVLA was also named as Runner Up in the category of Central e-Government Excellence: Take-up & Usage Growth at the 2007 e-Government Awards, as well as taking honours at the CG Awards for Innovation and winning the UK Government CIO Council Award for Best Example of Transformational Government in Action."

 

 -ends-

 

Notes to Editors:

 

The following may seem like genuine reasons to some DVLA customers but they will not prevent a customer receiving a penalty letter:

 

I did not get my car tax reminder

You do not need your car tax reminder to tax your car. While we will remind you when your car is due to be taxed, if you do not receive this reminder you can still tax your car online at www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc or by phone on 0870 850 4444 using your vehicle registration certificate (V5C), more commonly known as the ‘log book’. It is up to you to remember to tax your car.

 

I have already told you that I no longer have the vehicle, I sold it to a garage or member of public

If you have told us that you no longer have the vehicle, you will receive an acknowledgement letter from us within 4 weeks. If you do not receive this letter you should contact us. You will remain liable for the vehicle until we are told that you are no longer the registered keeper.

 

My vehicle is out of the country/I am working away from home when I am due to tax/SORN, what do I do?

You can tax or SORN your car online at www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc or by phone on 0870 850 4444 from any country, or you can arrange for someone to tax/SORN on your behalf. If you know you will be out of the country at the time of your tax/SORN expiring, you can tax or SORN up to 2 calendar months in advance by using selected Post Office® branches or any DVLA Local Office.

 

My car is on my drive/in my garden and I made a SORN last year

If you do not intend to use your car on the road, then you must tell us it is off the road by making a SORN, and you must make a SORN every year.

 

My car has failed its MOT, and I can’t tax it. What do I do?

If you intend to tax your vehicle, do so before your current tax disc runs out. However, we accept that this is not always possible. For example, if you are waiting for insurance or are getting an MOT for your vehicle, you may not be able to renew your tax on time. By law you, as the Registered Keeper, you will not be committing an offence if you tax the vehicle or make a SORN within 14 days of the date your current tax disc runs out. However, you must keep your vehicle off the road during this time as it is an offence to use your vehicle without displaying a valid tax disc

 

I am waiting for tax class to be changed to disabled

You can only change the tax class to disabled at the same time as taxing your car at a tax-issuing Post Office® branch or DVLA Local Office.    

 

I have moved address, and I am not receiving any post.

It is up to you to remember to tax your car. You must tell us if you move address, or you could face a £1000 fine.

 

Please visit www.direct.gov.uk/motoring for government information on all aspects of motoring, ranging from log books and driving licences to driving tests and vehicle tax.

 

All press enquiries should be directed to:

 

MGB

PR 01792 460200

Natasha Fulford

Natasha@mgbpr.com