If you’re purchasing a car, there’s one small thing you need to check before you drive it away – or you could face a fine of up to £2,500
A minor oversight when buying a car could land you in serious legal hot water. Amid the excitement of purchasing your gleaming new motor, it’s crucial to ensure you have the vehicle’s log book, also known as a V5C.
This document is key in proving that you’re the registered keeper of the car and are therefore responsible for its registration and taxation. Crucially, you won’t be able to tax the car without the necessary details from the log book.
The DVLA itself urges buyers to always request to see the V5C vehicle registration certificate before buying a car and to check it has a ‘DVL’ watermark. It should also have a serial number that isn’t between BG8229501 to BG9999030, or BI2305501 to BI2800000.
If these details don’t match up, the V5C might actually be stolen. You should also make sure you receive the green ‘new keeper’ slip from the log book which will enable you to tax the car straight away.
Fines of up to £2,500 for untaxed vehicles. It’s recommended that you tax your car immediately after purchase, reports the Manchester Evening News.
This is because driving a vehicle on a public UK road without valid road tax is a criminal offence – with one very small exception.
If you’re stopped driving an untaxed motor, you could be slapped with a fine of up to £2,500 depending on the car’s status. If the DVLA system automatically flags a vehicle you’re driving as being untaxed but not declared SORN (off the road), the registered keeper of the vehicle will cop an £80 fine.
Alternatively, you could receive an out-of-court settlement letter which includes a fine of £30 plus the outstanding vehicle tax multiplied by one-and-a-half. If this isn’t paid, it then escalates to a criminal offence which could see you in front of a magistrate’s court where you face either a £1,000 fine or the amount of tax charged multiplied by five – whichever is greater.
However, if you drive an untaxed vehicle which has a SORN notice in force (something you should check before buying the vehicle), you will receive an out-of-court settlement letter with a £30 fine plus double the outstanding tax. If this is left unpaid, you will find yourself in magistrate’s court where you could be hit with a fine of up to £2,500.
The only exception to taxing your car is if you’re taking it to a pre-booked MOT test. While there are no exact rules on the distance you can drive in this circumstance, it is advisable that you do not travel an unreasonable distance and you avoid stopping at any shops on the way as this could void your exemption if stopped by police.
The DVLA advises that you should carry out the following checks before viewing a vehicle you plan to buy: When receiving the log book, make sure all details align with what the seller has told you. You can also verify if the vehicle identification number and engine number match those in the logbook.