Registered keeper no insurance

[RyanB]

I sold a vehicle approx 18 months when self employed. Stupidly let one of the lads deal with the exchange with the dealer (the vehicle was being part exed). He gave the exchange courier all of the V5.
Dealer said he would deal with changing the registered keeper with DVLA (have had dealers do this before without issues)

fast forward 6 months and I received a fine letter from for being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle. I replied via letter stating I had sold the vehicle and the details of who I had sold it to. Sent by normal mail.

now I've received a single justice summons for still being the registered keeper of an uninsured vehicle. I can prove when I part exed the vehicle as I have the exchange invoice, I can also prove that the dealer still has the vehicle for sale. I've messaged the dealer who apologised and said he will contact DVLA and back date the change of ownership

I believe I will still have to attend the court summons, but is a no guilty plead likely to succeed? I'm probably guilty of being a bit relaxed by letting the dealer handle the change of ownership and no sending my reply to DVLA by recorded delivery, but I'm not guilty of owning the vehicle at the time it was uninsured

[HandyAndy]

...but I'm not guilty of owning the vehicle at the time it was uninsured

But that's not the charge you face. The responsibility lies with the RK, no the owner.

A not guilty plea is unlikely to succeed without the co-operation of the DVLA. To buy some time you could respond to the SJPN by pleading guilty but asking for a court appearance. You can then contact the dealer and the DVLA to see if they will backdate the change of RK.