Over 20,000 drivers paying Labour up to £375 by | Tech News

More than 20,000 drivers might be paying Labour up to £375 to use the roads after they no longer need to, in accordance to new information. According to the Telegraph, figures obtained by the DVLA by means of a freedom of info request revealed that 24,000 basic automobiles inbuilt 1984 and 1985 may nonetheless be paying car tax charges after they no longer need to.

A breakdown of the statistics revealed that drivers of 18,040 automobiles inbuilt 1985 had not shifted onto the historic tax standing obligatory to not pay charges. The information discovered that 5,869 automobiles registered in 1984 had additionally not modified their tax standing.

Cars registered earlier than 2001 are charged VED charges based mostly on the dimensions of their engine. Those with engines producing 1,549cc and beneath can pay £230 per yr, with these above 1,549cc paying up to £375.

Motorists don’t need to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) charges if their vehicle is over 40 years previous due to historic tax exemption guidelines. However, street customers nonetheless need to formally tax their model annually regardless of not needing to pay to get behind the wheel.

Mark Wilkinson, of Heritage Car Insurance, which obtained the figures, stated: “We were surprised by just how many owners are still being taxed as though their vehicles were brand new.

“The historic tax class exists precisely for cars like these, but it isn’t applied automatically, so if you don’t know to ask, you keep paying.”

GOV.UK explains that street customers can apply to stop paying for vehicle tax from April 1, 2026 if their vehicle was constructed earlier than January 1, 1986. Road customers who have no idea when their vehicle was constructed can stop paying tax if their car was first registered earlier than January 8, 1986.

Motorists eager to apply for a historic vehicle tax exemption can achieve this by visiting high road Post Office shops.

To apply, street customers need a vary of paperwork comparable to their vehicle V5C log e book, a vehicle tax reminder letter, proof of a present MOT or any proof that a vehicle is exempt from an MOT.

However, officers have warned that street customers who nonetheless need to use their vehicle whereas an software is being processed should make sure the car remains to be taxed.