Fine - Mark Cutajar

Hi

I've been hit with a 2k fine for driving my car whilst SORN.

But....even though I will freely admit, I don't know if the tax ran out. I haven't declared my car SORN.

The letter states: "...this vehicle was being used or kept whilst a SORN declaration was in force...'

The DVLA website says my car is SORN, but not 'untaxed'.

What's the error here, mine? Theirs?

Fine - Brit_in_Germany

Did you buy the car recently? If not, the fault is theirs. Driving untaxed may have a higher penalty though.

Edited by Brit_in_Germany on 15/08/2025 at 19:21

Fine - Mark Cutajar

Nope, I'm the sole UK owner of this car.

I just thought it was like £80 fine plus a bit more, not 2K!

Fine - tourantass

Hi Just check that that what you have been sent is legit, I recently received a very credible looking email from supposedly the DVLA informing my vehicle needed taxing etc etc, which after checking on the “real” DVLA site wasn't the case, ….just a thought.

Fine - Mark Cutajar

Sadly it's not a scam.

The payment website is www.gov.uk/pay-dvla-fine

Fine - elekie&a/c doctor
Surely you must know if you’ve been paying the ved / road tax? Credit/ debit cards / direct debit??
Fine - Mark Cutajar

Chances are I have forgot to tax it. I don't doubt it.

But why is my car SORN?

Plus the fine doesn't seem to add up to what they state on their website.

Its an 07 plate, Subaru Forsester, import for context.

Fine - Ethan Edwards

But why didn't you get the DVLA notification in the post? Is it registered to a non current address perhaps? If not then surely a lack of notification ought to be a factor?

Fine - Mark Cutajar

Am I correct in assuming they no longer post reminders out?

Fine - Xileno

No, they still send them out. I expect it's possible to opt out but mine still is posted. Whether it turns up is another matter, I've had post going awol recently.

Fine - Big John

Address not updated with DVLA?

Fine - Mark Cutajar

Nope, V5, and previous V11s came here.

Fine - Ian_SW

Nope, V5, and previous V11s came here.

Could someone else have registered your car to a different address and SORNed it? It shouldn't be possible to do by accident as you need the number on the V5 as well as the registration number.

The same could have happened due to an error within the DVLA, but if they go back through their records of what was changed when, they should be able to see if something doesn't add up.

The car being marked as SORN would also explain the lack of any reminder for tax but would have needed someone to have had sight of the V5.

My advice would be to phone the DVLA and speak to them. You should then be able to check whether all details they have are still as you have on the V5. Also worth asking them when the vehicle was declared SORN and the dates any letters/emails containing notifications were sent to you.

If the SORN was in any month other than the last before the tax expires, they should have sent you a refund of the remaining tax. Presumably you've not had this (it arrives in the post as a cheque if I remember correctly) so if the car is still registered to your address that would be a sign something may have gone wrong with their systems.

Fine - Bromptonaut

Sadly it's not a scam.

The payment website is www.gov.uk/pay-dvla-fine

There's been a bit of scamming around DVLA stuff recently.

Another reason to call them.

Fine - bathtub tom

But....even though I will freely admit, I don't know if the tax ran out. I haven't declared my car SORN.

Have you bothered to check its status on the DVLA website: www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

Fine - Brit_in_Germany

Have you bothered to check its status on the DVLA website: www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

See the first post.

Fine - Bromptonaut

As others say you need to speak to DVLA and work through the car's history.

So far as I can see SORN isn't something that happens automatically; it has to be applied for.