DVLA alert as UK drivers told they ‘must’ do this | Tech News

Motorists have been warned they “must” do one factor to have the ability to drive within the UK. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has reminded people to tax their vehicle – “even if you don’t have to pay anything”.

Car tax, additionally referred to as vehicle tax or street tax, is a charge for utilizing a motor vehicle on public roads in Britain. The funds collected are then used for infrastructure enhancements together with street upkeep and repairs.

You can decide to pay this both yearly or month-to-month. Failure to pay your vehicle tax may end in a high-quality, which may escalate to as a lot as £1,000 if the case goes to court docket.

Your car is also clamped or impounded if it is not taxed and is parked on a public street. Even although some automobiles are exempt from car tax, you continue to need to register them for tax.

In a post shared on social media platform X, the DVLA acknowledged: “You must tax your vehicle, even if you don’t have to pay anything.

“Tax it online at http://gov.uk/dvla/tax.”

How to tax your vehicle

To tax your vehicle, you will need a reference number from either:

• A recent reminder or a “final likelihood” 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 will need to request a replacement log book. Tax payments can be made by debit or credit card, or by setting up a direct debit.

Exempt vehicles

Certain vehicles do not have to pay tax. However, you must still register your vehicle for tax even though no payment is necessary.

The DVLA’s website states: “You should tax your vehicle even in the event you do not should pay something, for instance in the event you’re exempt since you’re disabled.”

If you do not tax your vehicle, you will receive an out of court settlement (OCS) letter.

The charge is set at £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding vehicle tax sum. If you do not pay the OCS, the case could be taken to the magistrates’ court as a criminal offence, with fines reaching either £1,000 or five times the taxable sum, whichever is greater.

Your vehicle could also be clamped, which may result in additional charges. However, some vehicles are exempt from this payment.

If your car is used by a disabled person, you can apply for the disability exemption when taxing your vehicle. Evidence of eligibility for the disability exemption will be needed.

The DVLA has stated: “You can take away an exemption from a vehicle if it is no longer being utilized by a disabled individual. You can solely use your exemption on one vehicle at a time. If you’ve more than one vehicle, you may need to decide on which one shall be exempt from vehicle tax.”

Vehicles run by organisations offering transport services for disabled people are also tax-exempt, although this does not apply to ambulances.

Historic vehicles, specifically those built before 1 January 1985, are not liable for vehicle tax. Other vehicles that are exempt include:

• Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs that do not exceed 8mph on roads and 4mph on pavements
• Lawn mowers
• Steam-powered vehicles
• Tractors
• Agricultural engines
• Light agricultural vehicles used off-road
• “Limited use” vehicles used for short journeys (not exceeding 1.5km) on public roads between plots of land owned by the same person
• Electric heavy goods vehicles

For further details, visit the Government website right here.