SJP Uninsured Registered Keeper - Had insurance but not for that car

[badCarOwner]

Hi,

Complete wally here.

I've been issued a Single Justice Procedure for Uninsured Keeper of Motor Vehicle which is the first I heard of any offence being committed: £350 fine.

I had insurance but that car was not named on the policy.

It broke and I have a Certificate of Destruction for the vehicle in question dated the 8/8/2018 and was initially told by the Debt Collections that the charge was dated on the 14/8/2018 so went forward to arrange the Stat Dec for tomorrow where I planned to plead Not Guilty.

When I checked the actual SJP they sent it is dated 3/8/2018.

I had moved house in Jan 2018 and lost my V5C in the move so failed to update the address of registered keeper (wally). The vehicle had broken down in April beyond the point of repair and was unusable. It was recovered by the RAC and sat on my drive a number of months prior to me scrapping it and with the loss of V5C, I failed to file a SORN. I assume any charges etc have been sent to old address so I never received them.

I did acquire another vehicle and possess fully comp insurance for it following the breakdown in April where I cancelled my previous policy for the vehicle I am charged with failing to insure. It seems quite interesting that I would only be charged with being and uninsured keeper 5 days prior to its destruction when it was already unmentioned on any policy for 4 months.


In summary:

-I was an insured driver on the date of 3/8/2018

-The vehicle in question was not named on the policy

-I failed to change the keepers(me) registered address of the vehicle

-I failed to complete a SORN for the vehicle

-I have a SJP dated 3/8/2018

-The first notice i received of the SJP or indeed any contravention was on 30/4/19 on a letter to my current address dated 17/4/19 (I was out of the country)

-My magistrates appearance is this tomorrow


I've definitely learned my lesson when it comes to documentation but any advice would be appreciated...
Am I guilty of an offence if I had insurance but not for that car?
Should I respond not guilty or pay the fine?

Thanks

[des8]

It is an offence to keep a vehicle without insurance unless you have notified the DVLA that your vehicle is being kept off the road and have a valid Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).

You are in court tomorrow??

Try and pay and get the case withdrawn, otherwise plead guilty and mitigating circumstances for not responding to SJP

[badCarOwner]

Thanks for that clarification des8. I think it's the response to the SJP tomorrow in the magistrates. They sent that to my correct address somehow. I guess it's too late to try pay the fine now but will give it a go.

[des8]

Good luck,
You might be able to arrange payment with DVLA bod before the hearing.