Unexpected DVLA delays on Registration retention.

[Toe-side]

Having placed my Z up for sale we attempted to transfer the private reg off the Z on Saturday.
I transferred another registration last month on my daily runner online and new V5C arrived two days later, very quick so I didn’t see and issue doing the same again. Simple...................
However we weren't allowed to carry out the transfer on line!? Tried this morning thinking it was a weekend website issue. No success.
Rang DVLA and "I have to send the V5C to Swansea with a V317 and a cheque!" old school style. Timescale quoted 2-4 weeks :x .
This situation is apparently because the car has been un-taxed for a period time within the last 5 years. As I stated to DVLA I have owned the car for 3 years, with it always being taxed. They assigned the plate 3 years ago without question. This lapse of tax occurred before my purchase. I don’t understand what the issue is personally and why this prevents a on line change to go ahead.

Long story short I wasn’t expecting this delay and I clearly cannot sell the car without a V5C in my possession so I am now at the mercy of the DVLA. My wife sent the documents off recorded this morning.

With perspective buyers wanting to view and buy the car soon this has really screwed things up (not aside form a very busy time a t work) Lets hope these dates are just worst case scenario and I will have the documents back sooner..........much sooner!

Thought I would share this "glitch" in the system in case it catches others out......I had never heard of this and have been recently praising DVLA for the new on line system

 

[srhutch]

Does seem daft. If it wasnt taxed at the time you wanted to do the transfer I could maybe understand.

 

[mr wilks]

Had the same scene earlier in year when they told me they were glitches they would be sorting out
Clearly proving too difficult
I think the problem is with the taxed history of the car you want to assign your plate to ?
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=77798&hilit=private+plate&start=15

 

[Number5]

Any car that's been off the road for several months suggests a possibility its been in for major repairs. Therefore they sometimes want to see it.
I had a Peugeot 405, 20 years back that DVLA wanted to inspect before a transfer. All went fine. Turned out 2 years later when i eventually traded it in that it had been written off. With that and the low miles I should have sussed it, but I genuinely had no idea.

 

[Toe-side]

Hi guys just retaining the plate not transferring at present so its not that
Number5's point makes some sense. The dealer that I bought it off had had the car on the forecourt for quite a while (was asking to much) as I watched it all summer before buying it at a more reasonable price so hence the tax break i guess.
Its not been accident damaged and I thought they would have checked all that when the car was assigned ownership to me 3 years ago?
Bloody frustrating :x

 

[85genius]

I had the same thing it's if a car has an accident reported against it, it may not even show on the v5 but if it's on dvla records then online retention doesn't work. Still only took a week from me posting the v5 off to getting my retention certificate

 

[rhys4]

85genius,how long did it take to get your v5 back? Im in the same situation.Sent off the forms to put the plate on retention,couldn't do it on line as I wanted to add a nominee.I am meant to be picking up a new Q7 on Friday but they will not accept the part exchange without the new v5.I want the car on Friday to take to Dorset for a week,so thinking I will keep the car and write them a cheque for what they were going to give me for the part exchange and then they can give me the money back when I get the v5.Hope this will suit them,or it arrives in the next 3 days.

 

[85genius]

I posted it first class on the Friday and had it back in the post the following Saturday so literally a week turn around which I thought was good, have known the DVLA drag their heels much longer than that in the past

 

[Toe-side]

Yes V5C came back this morning so Monday to Friday.
That's pretty rapid and much faster than it was before. The 2-4 weeks they tell you is worst case scenario.