DVLA contingency arrangements during Royal Mail industrial action

FTA has learnt that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is putting in place contingency arrangements during the period of Royal Mail industrial action.

Members may be affected in respect of VED refunds, delivery and non-display of tax discs.

Refunds of VED

Current refund rules will not change and refunds will still be calculated from the date the application is made.  DVLA has advised that existing processes allow for an event such as a disposal notification to be received after the refund application.

Fleet operators

DVLA uses a secure courier company, which is not part of Royal Mail, to deliver tax discs to operators on the electronic fleet scheme; discs for November should have already been received.  V11 reminders for November, which are delivered by Royal Mail, have already been sent.  There are no plans to allow fleet operators to collect V11s from Swansea but this option will be reviewed in the event of further industrial action.

Non-display of tax discs     

DVLA is already working with police to agree a softer approach to enforcing non-display.  Operators can legally drive while not displaying a tax disc for the first five working days of the month providing they renew before the old disc expires.  The five day exemption means that the police must check the record to confirm if an offence has been committed and the vehicle can be driven legally until 6 November.  Should further action nearer the end of a month be announced DVLA will issue more advice on the matter.

Smart tachograph and CPC certificates

No changes to the current processes for issue of smart tacho and CPC certificates are proposed.  As with the other items mentioned, this situation will be reviewed if further industrial action is announced.