Two valid car tax discs

[Jules001]

Recently bought a second hand car from a garage and they arranged the new tax disc for us so it was ready for when we collected the car. No problems so far, however when we got the car home, we found that there was an already valid tax disc in the glovebox. We thought we would wait until the car was registered in our name and then apply for a refund, but having just looked at the DVLA online form, it asks why you are applying for a refund and none of the options apply to these circumstances. Does anyone know if it will be possible for us to get a refund on this , it doesn't run out until December and seems it had only just be renewed before the previous owner sold the car. We could have saved £130 on the tax and not had to shell out for car, tax and insurance all in one hit.

[albaqwerty]

First reaction would be to phone them but it#s nigh on impossible to talk to a human at the DVLA

If both tax discs runs until December, send one recorded delivery asking for a refund (photocopy the letter tho and maybe the disc for your records) explaining what had happened. Alternatively, get back to the garage which sold the car in the first place. (Try that first but don't hand over the tax disc)

[Jules001]

I did consider phoning the DVLA, but as you say trying to talk to a human is very unlikely, that's why I thought I would try on here first. The tax disc that we bought through the garage was for 12 months, so doesn't expire until July 2012 whereas the one in the glove box runs out in December. Maybe I'll try ringing tomorrow and hope that I get a human :)

[Buenchico]

Actually calling in to your local DVLA office might be your best course of action:
http://www.dft.gov.uk...offices/findnear.aspx

Chris

[craft1948]

I spoke to someone at the DVLA a couple of weeks ago and had no problem getting through............

[albaqwerty]

I knew someone like Chris would have a better idea :)

(I forgot they existed, the local DVLA offices that is)

[Jules001]

Just checked on the link Chris gave and my nearest office is a good 30 mins drive away at least, so will try ringing them tomorrow and see how I get on. Thanks for the suggestion though and thanks also to both Alba and Craft. I will post an update when I have got something sorted.

[Jules001]

UPDATE as promised. I rang the number for my local DVLA office and got to speak to a human yaaaay!. I explained that I was trying to complete a V14 online to get a tax disc refund, but that none of the options to give reason for refund applied in my circumstances. She was very helpful and said to send in the form, the old disc and a covering letter stating what I had told her and they would process the application as normal. So thanks again to everyone.

[Bigfellah]

This is a strange one! Two things occur to me.

1 Surely when the garage applied for a tax disc the DVLA checks the database? If so they would find that a disc already exists and inform the garage accordingly!

2 The garage does not appear to have been very careful when preparing the vehicle for resale. Any good garage would have checked the glove compartment as part of its pre sale routine to make sure it was clean etc.

Anyone else have thoughts on this?

[Old_Geezer]

You mean they say it is all computerised, and they'll get your car and vandalise it if you haven't a valid tax disk or told them it's off the road, and yet they can't even work out that a car is already taxed when a second application comes through, and so not issue a second disk?

Somehow I'm unsurprised.

[whiskeryron]

Jules001
Question Author
Just checked on the link Chris gave and my nearest office is a good 30 mins drive away
And ? What's 30 mins, No big deal is it.?

Ron.

[Jules001]

I think that either the old tax disc was in a folder with the paperwork and was overlooked or was in the tax disc holder and when they came to put the new one, just shoved the old one in the glove compartment. It is a big Ford main dealer garage, so I am not happy with them that they have caused this problem

[redcrx]

what problem have they caused? call the garage and tell them its there, they were probably going to get a refund on it after previous owner part ex'd it or something.
you havnt paid for it, so why should you be entitled to the refund anyway?

[Jules001]

Actually Ron - 30 mins is a big deal as that is the approximate given driving time, I do know roughly where it is and think it would probably take quite a bit longer than 30 mins, then there is the time spent at the offices, and then the 30+ minutes drive back again. Time at the moment I don't have to spare for this.

[redcrx]

"they can't even work out that a car is already taxed when a second application comes through, and so not issue a second disk? " They probably can, Old Geezer. But if you sold a car and took the tax out of it so you could claim a refund, dont you think the new owner ought to be able to tax it immediately and not have to wait until your refund came through.

[joko]

does it matter why you want a refund? will it affetct them giving you one?

if not just make something up