Can't get legal

[M80]

I insured the Viano last evening, to start from midnight last.
It passed the MOT at noon today.

This evening it still isn't showing as insured or MOT'd online so I can't tax it.
As the states computers can't calculate a daily VED rate I will be illegal if I drive on the road, even though when I tax it it must be for the complete month of October.

I wish I could clamp their computers and charge them a release fee.

 

[M80]

Stuff 'em, I'm off out for a drive.

 

[Wighty]

Don't worry it will all catch up in a day or so ,

 

[bembo449]

mot should show instantly once the vehicle has passed , did you get a certificate ?

 

[peterws1957]

^^ This exactly. My car MOT 'd on Saturday. Appeared instantly on MOT site.

 

[Ken_R]

This evening it still isn't showing as insured or MOT'd online so I can't tax it.

Something wrong there. Is the VRM shown on the V5 the same as the plates shown on the car? I've known them to be different. The same with the MOT and the Insurance. It only needs a 'typo' error on either or both on the entries/documents to cause problems.

 

[jp williams]

Can`t you go to the Post Office with the requisite Form and evidence of insurance ans MOT ?

 

[M80]

I thought similar, the MOT is done via a live feed so should be instant,
checked for an error in reg or vin and no all is as it should be.

Sheilas' Wheels have thanked me for my custom, provided my documents online (all info checked and correct) then asked for feedback, and then even informed me that they have found proof of my NCD via an insurance data base.

All good on the face of it.

Six weeks ago the DVLA informed, verbally, that I can apply for a change of category from M1 to N1. Same day I posted the V5 and covering letter, as requested. Monday I phoned to be told that it was with the correct department for assessment, but it isn't normally possible to change category. Maybe this has confused the sytems, well it's confused me anyway.

Hard to believe that vehicles should be taken off the road whenever we have dealings with the DVLA.

 

[curious]

What's the reason for changing from M1 to N1?
Won't you be subject to lower speed limits?

 

[M80]

I would be limited to 60 on a 70 dual carriageway, and 50 on a 60 rural road otherwise the same.
I generally cruise at 60 anyway on faster roads for economy,
on rural roads it might slow me a little but most dodderers seem to travel at 45 no matter what the limit.

The VED advantage would be £240 pa rather than £520 pa so worth it in my mind.
I owned the Vito for over 3 years before realising it was N1 and also realised it hadn't made a difference to my drive style as I hadn't been pulled for speeding.

Anyway, verbally, the application was rejected.
All is up to date on the online sites now so I coughed up the £520, reluctantly.

 

[curious]

I didn't realise there was such a difference (or in fact any) between the two classes for VED.
Does it affect the insurance (was a car, now a van)?

 

[M80]

Application rejected.
Otherwise there may have been issues with the company that insured it as a car saying "we don't insure commercials", although the DVLA did say they don't have a commercial class which confused me some.
But the usual style of different statements between operatives has already been experienced causing me to put the application in.
Had the insurance declined insurance for a van I 'would' have utilised the 14 day cancellation option, which may still happen if they are silly when it comes to changing their records to my private plate.

Now to add to the VED considerations there are two more categories to be taxed if the 'van' has a DPF ie was registered during a defined period as euro 5, or euro 6 for a different defined period. Then the tax would only be £140. It would seem though that to qualify the vehicle should be registered as N1 from new.

 

[M80]

Thought I would post up a positive review about Sheila's Wheels (Esure).

I had a call earlier, just a courtesy call to see if all was correct with the policy. I don't have patience with these calls as they're generally just a pretence to sell some thing I hadn't considered.
Not this time. There were no ridiculous security barriers as is usual even when who ever calls and wish to speak to me. Hearing all was as I expected of the policy the question "is there anything else I can do for you?"
I had put my private plate on retention but hadn't got around to applying it to the Viano, so I asked how much. £26 was the reply, no great surprise, "when would you like to do this, if now I can do this without charge."
As I hadn't done the online thing with the DVLA she agreed to call me back in a hour.
DVLA took 5 minutes online.
Swapping plates maybe 15 minutes.
She called back enquired as to when the change would be from and I was ready. She quoted my D.O.B. day and month and needed the year. She quoted the first part of the post code and required me to finish it.
Took the new reg, entered the change, no charge, all done.

What a refreshing change for a company to actually provide customer service.

 

[kid-jensen]

It's nice to hear about good customer service, so rare amongst Insurance companies.
I was insured with E-Sure (same company) for many years but that was because my personal criterion for picking an insurance company is that they are close enough to be able to walk in with my baseball bat and get some REAL customer service!

I drive past their place in Reigate everyday, so it's easy to call in and "have a chat".

If it wasn't for their outrageous price rises, I'd still be with them...

 

[Craiglxviii]

That’s interesting. It was my experience of Esure that they were a bunch of dour, humourless, inefficient, sloppy to55ers who were also 30% more expensive after the first year than their closest rivals...

 

[M80]

I don't know when sheilas' Wheels partnered up with Esure, or even if they always have been, but I've insured with them in previous years (but not the last 2 years) and I've found them competitive and competent.

Hopefully this experience won't be spoiled come renewal time.
Remember when it was the norm to just continue with the same company? Something that was called loyalty if my fading memory serves.

 

[turbopete]

Remember when it was the norm to just continue with the same company? Something that was called loyalty if my fading memory serves.

yes. and they bust their nuts to be the cheapest (or best value) for you too, so you would stay with them!!!

I remember when I was with royal sun alliance (around the time royal merged with sun alliance) and I had my insurance with them, cheapest of anyone and covered me at the time (with what was known as 'fully comprehensive' so had all the current add ons included and covered me the same cover in ANY car, not just my own, no reg number required on the policy, private policy and not a trade policy) with FAR better cover and at a cost that's lower (compared to my income) than today. I had mates at the time (I was about 20, so about 22 years ago) paying more to insure a 1.6 Escort (carb variety) than I was paying to be covered on any car I was allowed to drive, including my boss' Sierra XR4x4 (2.9 version) amongst other vehicles I had access to. it was great as you never needed to worry about insurance if you had a genuine need to drive another car, for some reason. now its all a big hassle.