What happens if I don't update my address?
Think you updated everything when you moved? Did you update your Driving Licence? Yes. Did you update your Vehicle Logbook (V5C)? Probably not. They are separate systems. This simple mistake ruins credit files.
1 The Typical Timeline
If you take no action, this is the standard statutory process. Timescales are approximate but typical for 2026.
Mail Redirect Ends
You set up Royal Mail redirection for 3 months. It ends. You forget to update your V5C logbook.
Minor Fine Issued
You get a parking ticket, speeding fine, or Dart Charge. The letter goes to your OLD address (as per V5C). You never see it.
Judgment by Default
Because you don't reply, the court issues a CCJ 'in default'. You still know nothing about it.
Bailiffs / Credit Rejection
Months later, you apply for a mortgage and get declined, or bailiffs trace you to your new address demanding £500+.
2 Free Calculators & Checks
Did you miss a spot? Check your risk of a hidden CCJ.
Ghost Debt Scanner
Step 1 of 4How many times have you moved house in the last 6 years?
Moved house? Here is the checklist of exactly where to look for lost fines.
Fine Tracer
If you moved without telling everyone, fines might be piling up at your old address. Here is exactly where to check.
The #1 Danger: The V5C
Updating your Driving License does NOT update your Vehicle Logbook (V5C). This is where 90% of ghost fines come from.
Contact the TEC
The Traffic Enforcement Centre handles unpaid parking/driving fines. Call them to see if there are any warrants against your name.
Memory test. Build a list of every address you need to check.
Address History Checker
List every address you lived at in the last 6 years. You need to check *each one* for CCJs using TrustOnline.
The V5C Trap
It is a criminal offence not to update your V5C logbook. You can be fined up to £1,000. But the real cost is the 'Backdoor CCJ' (County Court Judgment) that destroys your credit rating for 6 years just because a parking company wrote to the wrong house.
Tracing Yourself
Before applying for a mortgage, check your credit reports (all 3 agencies: Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) AND specific 'Previous Addresses'. Bailiffs use 'Tracing Agents' to find you; you should do the same to find your debts.
Summary of Options
Update V5C & License
Do it now. It's free. Updating your license does NOT update your logbook. You must do both.
Check TrustOnline
If you moved a lot, pay £6 to search the 'Registry Trust' for any judgments against your name at previous addresses.
Set Aside
If you find a 'Ghost CCJ', you can apply to 'Set Aside' the judgment (Form N244) because the papers were served to the wrong address.
Common Questions
I updated my driving license. Is that enough?
NO. This is the most common mistake. The V5C (Car Logbook) is a completely separate database. Speeding fines and parking tickets go to the V5C address, not your license address.
Can I remove a CCJ sent to an old address?
Yes, you can apply to 'Set Aside' the judgment. You need to prove you acted promptly when you found out, and that you have a defence (e.g., 'I never received the claim form').
Does redirecting mail fix this?
Only temporarily. Once the redirection expires, the letters initiate the legal process at the old address.
Official Sources & References
Related Situations
Other guides accurately explaining what happens next in fines & penalties .
What happens if I ignore a County Court claim form?
Ignoring a court claim is the fastest way to get a CCJ. You lose the right to defend yourself and the creditor can use bailiffs or take money from your wages immediately.
What happens if I'm taken to court for debt?
A Court Claim (CCJ) is serious, but you have 14 days to respond. Ignoring it guarantees you lose.
What happens if I don't pay my TV licence?
It is a criminal offence, but it is not a 'recordable' one. You face a fine of up to £1,000 (plus costs), but you CANNOT go to prison just for not paying.