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Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Christine Linley

My son in law recently purchased a Fiat Punto grand 56 reg . He sent off to tax it and the DVLA has told him he can't tax it, its a "random Check"

He has to take the car off the road immediately, can't even park it on the road and since they have no drive or garage this is in itself a big problem

He has to provide the DVLA with numerous photos of the car and it will take up to 4 weeks to sort out!
This is devastating news to them, they spent all their savings on this car so have no free cash to buy another one, they live out in the Welsh valleys so transport is awful and he has to be in work for 5.30 am when there is no transport at all. His work is literally over a mountain away so cycling for 4 weeks is no option .

Can the DVLA do this? Has anyone else ever experienced this ?

Anybody any ideas to speed this process up before he looses his job .

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Glaikit Wee Scunner {P}

I can think of several reasons a cars status might be queried by the DVLA.

None of them good. Can the previous owner help?

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Bromptonaut

First of all I'm sure they can do checks. Their function after all is to ensure the registration system runs correctly. Random check at change of owner is a reasonable precaution.

I'd suggest calling them and asking them to explain in more detail what is needed and why. Is it wholly random or is there something suspicious? Explain why it's a problem in this case. Stick with facts and keep calm and factual, getting cross and being arxey with people who are only doing their jobs does not help and may hinder.

If all they need to do is confirm the make, model and VIN/Engine number etc match it should be straightforward; 4 weeks would cover need for further investigation if there are discrepancies.

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - focussed

"If all they need to do is confirm the make, model and VIN/Engine number etc match it should be straightforward; 4 weeks would cover need for further investigation if there are discrepancies."

There's some sort of document that has all the details of the car on it - I seem to remember it's called a V5 - issued by the DVLA I think.

4 weeks to "investigate" is a b***** insult - I strongly suspect they are only doing it because they can.

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - NARU

I doubt its a random check.

I wonder if there's a clone out there (not saying this car - this one might be the original)?

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Bromptonaut

There's some sort of document that has all the details of the car on it - I seem to remember it's called a V5 - issued by the DVLA I think.

But we know there are circumstances where the details of the car and those on the DVLA issued V5 can differ. Obvious examples are clones, cut and shut jobs and jiggery pokery with write offs. DVLA would be derelict if they failed to have systems in place to deal with such possibilities. Another poster introduces possibility of vehicle having come off a personal plate (though nothing in OP suggests this). When we transferred a plate from retention onto our first Citroen Berlingo we had to take the car to the Local Office to be examined before the transfer paperwork was issued.

Following closure of the LVLO network examination is no longer required but some changes are selected for further examination either in form requested here or at an authorised MoT testing station.

Four weeks isn't that long if correspondence is going back and forth. Simple checks will probably be much quicker but if the pictures disclose need for further investigation.

They may do it because operating process requires it in a certain number of cases but idea that they'd single out someone at random 'because they can' is highly improbable.

OTOH if someone's attitude suggests there might be something afoot.....

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Christine Linley

We have tried ringing and the lady wasn't very helpful as she didn't seem to know why it is being done, They have had to take a load of photos , about 8 different things, all the inside and outside of the car and all the different chassis and vin numbers so they have emailed them straight back with those. Fingers crossed you are right and this wwill clear it all up rapidly

Thanks!

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Christine Linley

We are trying to get hold of him, it was a private seller :(

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - NARU

I'd try putting the car through a few of the free checkers and see if anything untoward shows.

www.gov.uk/check-mot-history

www.gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax

ownvehicle.askmid.com/

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Christine Linley

Hi yes we did all those checks before we bought so and all were correct. We are going to try going in person to Swansea DVLA today

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - SLO76
I’ve heard of this before if a private plate has been on the car and has been removed. They used to demand to see every car in such cases, now it’s a random check on one in ten. Shouldn’t take anything more than a visit to their nearest office but being few and far between this can mean a day wasted. I’d ask if it’s had a new plate and I’d ask why they’ve said it’ll take so long, sounds odd to me.
Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - RT
I’ve heard of this before if a private plate has been on the car and has been removed. They used to demand to see every car in such cases, now it’s a random check on one in ten. Shouldn’t take anything more than a visit to their nearest office but being few and far between this can mean a day wasted. I’d ask if it’s had a new plate and I’d ask why they’ve said it’ll take so long, sounds odd to me.

Are there any local offices still open - I thought they all closed.

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Andrew-T

<< Are there any local offices still open - I thought they all closed. >>

If the OP is in the Welsh valleys, getting to the 'real' DVLA in Swansea will only be half a Sabbath day.

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Christine Linley

We rang Swanse DVLA which is our local office but they do not want to see you in person and said things would progress faster via email :(

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Happy Blue!

I had to do this a few years ago before the current RFL system. It didn't take long and everything was ok with my car. But I think there was a reason for the check rather than it being random, maybe connected to a possible clone.

Fiat Punto grand - DVLA refusing to tax car as doing a "Random Check" - Christine Linley

Thanks! That cheered us up .The DVLA still hasn't acknowledged receiving all the information/photos they asked us email to them; we are hoping when they get round to checking them then everything will sort out, very frustrating that it can't be done in person only via email