am i responsible

[harrythomas]

I was recently fined for having a vehicle on the road untaxed.I have now received another letter demandig 98.00 for not displaying a tax disc at the time of the first offence .at the time of the offences my vehicle was left in the hands of a bodyshop for repairs and was delivered to the bodyshop by a recovery truck. the driver left the vehicle at the premises off the road. I was not in charge of it at all.can i be charged for these offences when the vehicle was left in someone elsays charge.After the second letter i wrote to explain the situation but my local authority want me to send them a letter from the body shop with full Iinfo about the bodyshop. Is this legal and can they make me do this> regards Harry winchester

[redcrx]

can you just clarify where the first offence took place, was it on road or in the bodyshop, you arent too clear.

If it wasnt sorn then the DVLA will want payment for any time it wasnt taxed at least

[chas2008]

i always thought if the vehicle isnt taxed it has to be declared SORN..there is no in-between

[New Judge]

Yes, chas is quite right.

A vehicle registered in your name has either to be taxed or declared off road by mens of a SORN.The registered keeper is responsible for doing one of these two things, nobody else, and one of the two must be done.

It does not matter whether the vehicle is being used or driven. Simply "keeping" it (by virtue of being the Registered Keeper) makes you responsible,

[harrythomas]

thanks to redcrx chas 2008&new judge.The vehicle is sorned in my name. It was left by the recovery driver out
side bodyshop but in bodyshops own car park. and later moved by owner of bodyshop .I would like to know if I am responsible for the actions of the owner of the bodyshop and if the local council can charge me for having a vehicle on the road untaxed as it was not in my care at the time of the offence?I will be away for a few days till monday so will not be able to respond again till then. many thanks Harry.

[redcrx]

if it was not on a public road at all during the time it was sorn then you shouldnt have to pay. But how did it get to the garage? was it on a tow truck?

Has the DVLA said what evidence they have to fine you?

[harrythomas]

to redcrx.It was delivered to the garage on a recovery truck and the driver left it off road..28 05 08It was spotted on the road and towed away to a local pound on 02 06 08.I had to pay afee totlling 325.pounds.to get it back.on 06 06 08.I had a letter dated 05.06 to say that it had been seen on 02 06 08 on the road unlicenced and they wanted an out of court settlement of 98.00or if I go to coust it could be a maximum fine of 1000.00 pounds. regards Harry.