Whilst some may seem like common sense, there are a lot of people who aren’t aware that they could be putting themselves in danger of facing hefty fines of up to £10,000. From personal detail changes to unrecorded medical conditions, take a look at some other common DVLA rules that you may not have known about.
Common Unknown DVLA fines
Whilst you may know some of the obvious fines, such as a speeding or parking fine, there are some lesser known penalties also exist. Although some may not seem as though they matter as much or something you may not even have considered, you could face hefty fines if you do not comply with the DVLA rules:
Medical Conditions
If you have a medical condition or have recently been diagnosed with one, you must inform the DVLA. The DVLA have listed around 110 health conditions that could affect your driving and as such, they must be declared on your licence. If you get diagnosed with something by your doctor, you must check the medical conditions of which the DVLA deem vital to list on your licence. In some extreme cases, the DVLA requires you to surrender your licence under three main scenarios:
- You don’t meet the standard requirements for driving safely because of your condition
- You have been told by your doctor that you cannot drive for three or more months
- Your diagnosis affects your ability to drive safely and lasts for three or more months
Some of the conditions that are listed on the DVLA’s checklist include many types of seizure, narcolepsy, deafness and chronic dizziness. All of the health conditions include guidance on whether or not you need to report it, so you can check how severe your condition has to be before you can no longer drive a vehicle. If you do not declare a condition when you should, you could be fined up to £1,000.
Name or Gender changes
If your name or gender changes, you must inform the DVLA. Your driving licence also doubles up as proof of identity, so if the DVLA has information listed that doesn’t match up to any other documentation, it then seems as though you are not the owner of the vehicle - and you could be fined up to £1,000. This is especially important for those who have just been wed - a surname change needs to be documented straight away. If you need to update personal information, you will need to send your old driving licence along with any supporting documentation to the DVLA, so that they can update your vehicle log and licence accordingly.
Modifications to your car
If you have decided to modify your car, certain changes will need to be documented on a V5C form and sent off as evidence. It is imperative that the DVLA are aware of radical changes, such as vehicle wraps, exhaust adaptations or the chassis has been modified. In certain cases, the DVLA will require an inspection of the vehicle to ensure that it is still road-worthy and legal to drive. They will conduct certain tests and if they fail, your car will not be allowed on the road until the driver has made the car roadworthy. In some extreme cases, owners of the modified vehicle may be given a fine or court summons.
Change to eyesight
If your eyesight suddenly deteriorates or if you are diagnosed with a visual impairment, the DVLA must be notified. These could include a diagnosis of cataracts or glaucoma. You must be able to read a registration plate from 20 metres away and this can be with glasses and contact lenses. Some drivers are required by law, to wear their glasses or contacts whilst driving and if you are found to be driving without them, you could be fined and have points added to your licence. If you have poor eyesight and the police have pulled you over, you could have your licence revoked immediately.
Providing driver details
When your car is registered under your name with the DVLA and they believe you have committed an offense, they will need to know if it was you or someone else. If it wasn’t you but you fail to give the name of the driver responsible, you could end up with a £1,000 fine and six points on your licence.
Change of Address
Regardless of whether or not your change of address is permanent or temporary, the DVLA still need to know where you are residing, just in case they need to contact you about anything important. Your driving license and V5C must always be kept up-to-date with the latest personal information and you can change them easily online. This could be someone moving to university or taking up temporary residence somewhere else. Failure to keep these up to date means you can be fined up to £1,000.
When you’re not using your car at all
If you plan on not not using your car for some time, you will need to complete a SORN (Statutory Off-Road Notice) form to let the DVLA know that the vehicle is off the road. All drivers must pay tax and insurance on their vehicle so if you’re not planning on using it, you won’t need to pay for them. If you fill out the form, you must ensure that neither you or anyone else drives the vehicle - it must stay on a driveway or in a garage as even parking it on the road is illegal if it isn’t taxed or insured. Driving the car anywhere other than to get an MOT could land the named driver with a £2,500 fine and/or prosecution.
Tyres
Your tyres are one of the most important features on your vehicle and it’s important you look after them and check to make sure they are road worthy. If you’re pulled over by the police and they find that your tyres are below the threshold, you could receive points on your license, as well as a large fine of £2,500 per tyre that is under the limit. If all four tyres are under the legal limit, you could be spending £10,000 in fines overall - could be an expensive trip to the shops! We offer a free tyre check, so book yours now to avoid fines.
What should you do if you get a fine?
If you do get a fine from the DVLA, you can either pay it, or in some circumstances, contest it if you think the fine was not appropriate. If you got a fine for not taxing or insuring the car or not telling the DVLA you no longer own the vehicle, then you may be able to contest it. You can appeal if you:
Have evidence that you’ve taxed your car
Have evidence that you’ve insured your car
Have evidence that you’ve already told the DVLA you no longer own the car
Any evidence must be dated before the offense. There are several instances where you will not be able to contest a fine:
You’ve forgotten or were away when you were legally obligated to insure, tax or register your vehicle as off the road
Missed a direct debit due to issues with your bank
Had a change of address and didn’t notify the DVLA
Never received a reminder from the DVLA or lost any paperwork
It is your responsibility to pay the fine unless one of these reasons give you grounds to appeal. Car tax and SORN fines can be paid online, but all other fines must be paid by post or over the phone. Failure to pay the fine by the due date could lead to your car being clamped or crushed, your information will be passed onto the debt collection agency or you’ll be called into court.
Find a car fit for your lifestyle today
Keeping on top of all of the correct documentation and informing the DVLA of any changes to your health, personal information or changes to your car means you can avoid any of these fines. If you’re looking for a new or used car, you can rest assured that you’re buying from an approved supplier - what’s more, we even offer servicing and MOTs on your car, so you’re fully covered. If you’re unsure what you're looking for or would like more information about one of the vehicles you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our team and we’d be happy to help you.