‘A parrot ate my logbook!’: Swansea DVLA reveal weirdest excuses for needing a replacement V5C
“I wasn’t concentrating and shredded it”, “it was in my trouser pocket and went through the washing machine” and “my parrot destroyed it” are among the most unusual reasons people have shared with DVLA for needing a replacement vehicle registration certificate.
Other unusual reasons shared with DVLA’s Swansea HQ include “My child covered their school book with it” and “I left it at a hotel in the Gobi Desert when driving across Asia during my gap year.”
DVLA launched an online service to get a replacement V5C in September 2020 and say it is now the quickest way to replace the document.
Since launch, the service has been used more than 300,000 times (around 5,800 times a week).
Motorists can order a new certificate for any reason, and that’s a plus for some motorists whose excuse fell back on the old chestnut that “the dog ate it”.
Other eyebrow-raising reasons included that “It blew out the window and when I went to look for it, it was gone” and “My grandchild took it to play outside and buried it in the mud.”
One person requesting a new vehicle registration certificate said: “Someone bought me a car for my birthday – they wrapped the keys in the V5C and I tore it open without knowing.”
Julie Lennard, DVLA Chief Executive, said that these reasons showed that people should not be shy about coming forwards and requesting a new document.
“Our online service to replace a V5C is quick and easy to use and means customers will receive their replacement vehicle registration certificate within the week,” she said.
“So whether you misplaced your V5C, it’s being digested by your pet or your kids have used it for arts and crafts – the quickest way to get a replacement is on GOV.UK.”
It’s much quicker to use the online service to replace a lost or damaged V5C and motorists will get a new one in 5 working days, she said – motorists applying by post may have to wait up to 6 weeks.
It costs £25 for a replacement V5C whether you go online or apply by post. A new logbook can be ordered here.
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What fun! Shame that the DVLA are sat on 54,000 HGV license applications that need to be processed, massively contributing to the HGV driver shortage.
Idiots panic-buying petrol may be recent and high-profile, but Welsh farmers have been suffering for months from a lack of HGV drivers getting produce off farm, and the problem is only getting worse.
We know the DVLA was badly run during the height of the pandemic, but they need to knuckle down and get this sorted. It’s costing people their livelihoods!