Motorists who fail to tax their vehicles could face penalties of up to £1,000
The DVLA reminded people to make sure their car is taxed(Image: Getty)
Drivers are being urged to carry out a crucial online task “now”. Failing to do so could result in a fine of up to £1,000. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) took to social media platform X to remind drivers to tax their vehicles. Vehicle Excise Duty, often referred to as car tax or road tax, is a compulsory charge for anyone driving a motor vehicle on Britain’s public roads.
The funds raised are directed towards infrastructure improvements, such as the maintenance and repair of the road network. Drivers have the option to pay this duty either in one annual payment or via monthly direct debit.
Those who fail to tax their vehicle will face a penalty, which could escalate to as much as £1,000 if the matter reaches court. Furthermore, your vehicle could be clamped or removed if it remains untaxed whilst stationed on public roads.
On X, the DVLA posted: “You can tax your vehicle online 24 hours a day, seven days a week on http://gov.uk/dvla/tax. Do it now. #TaxItDontRiskIt #DVLADigital”.
How to tax your vehicle
To tax your vehicle, you will need a reference number from either:
- A recent reminder or a “last chance” notification letter issued by DVLA regarding vehicle tax
- Your vehicle log book (V5C) which should be registered in your name
- The green “new keeper” portion of the log book if the vehicle has been newly acquired If you cannot find these documents, you’ll need to request a replacement log book
- Tax payments can be made using debit or credit card, or by setting up a direct debit
Exempt vehicles
Certain vehicles don’t have to pay tax. Nevertheless, you’re still required to register your vehicle for tax even though no payment is needed.
The DVLA’s website states: “You must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay anything, for example if you’re exempt because you’re disabled.”
If you don’t tax your vehicle, you’ll receive an out-of-court settlement (OCS) letter. The fee is set at £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding vehicle tax sum.
Not paying the OCS could see the case taken to a magistrates’ court as a criminal matter, with fines reaching either £1,000 or five times the taxable sum, whichever is greater. Your vehicle might also be clamped, possibly resulting in additional fees. But some vehicles don’t have to make this payment.
If your car is used by a disabled person, you can claim the disability exemption when taxing your vehicle. Evidence of eligibility for the disability exemption will be needed.
The DVLA explains: “You can remove an exemption from a vehicle if it’s no longer being used by a disabled person. You can only use your exemption on one vehicle at a time. If you have more than one vehicle, you’ll need to choose which one will be exempt from vehicle tax.”
Vehicles used by organisations offering transport services for disabled people are also tax-exempt, although this doesn’t include ambulances.
Classic vehicles, specifically those built before 1 January 1985, are not liable for vehicle tax. Owners can verify their vehicle’s eligibility on the Government website.
Other vehicles that don’t have to pay tax include:
- Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs with a maximum speed of 8mph on roads and 4mph on pavements
- Lawn mowers
- Steam-powered vehicles
- Tractors
- Agricultural engines
- Light agricultural vehicles used off-road
- “Limited use” vehicles making short journeys (no more than 1.5km) on public roads between land owned by the same person
- Electric heavy goods vehicles
For further details, visit the Government website here.
