DVLA urges drivers to set up alert to avoid fine | Tech News

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a reminder to set up an important textual content alert, which might stop your car from being clamped or eliminated. In a post on X (previously Twitter), they stress the significance of performing shortly, noting that the method solely takes a couple of minutes.

Their recent message reads: “Set up your Driver and autos account on http://GOV.UK and you may select to obtain vehicle tax reminders by textual content or electronic mail.  Do it immediately – it solely takes 5 minutes.”

Drivers are additionally reminded that “it’s illegal to drive your vehicle until you’ve taxed it.”

The motoring consultants warn on their web site: “You’ll be fined £80 if you do not tax your vehicle or tell DVLA that it’s off the road. You’ll also have to pay for the time it was not taxed. If you do not pay your fine on time your vehicle could be clamped or crushed, or your details passed to a debt collection agency.”

How to signal up for DVLA vehicle tax reminder alerts by e-mail and textual content

You need to tax your vehicle by way of GOV.UK and upon getting achieved this, you’ll be able to selected to obtain alerts by way of the post, electronic mail or textual content. The DVLA state: “If you pay for your vehicle tax every 6 or 12 months you may also get a reminder to tax your vehicle (V11 letter) by post. You can choose not to get paper reminders when you set up digital reminders in your account.”

Are you a registered keeper of an untaxed vehicle?

If you neglect to tax your vehicle, you may end up in hassle. As said on the official GOV.UK web site, the DVLA will establish any untaxed vehicle in the event you’re the registered keeper. If this occurs, they warn: “A late licensing penalty (LLP) letter is issued automatically. LLP set at £80 reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days. If the penalty is not paid, the case will be referred to a debt collection agency.”

They add: “If you pay by Direct Debit and fail to make the payment, DVLA may stop you from using this payment method in the future.” They cite this legal reference as being underneath “The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (VERA) (as amended) Sections 7A and 19B of the Act applies.” They additionally state it’s lined underneath “The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002, Regulation 9A.”

Are you retaining an untaxed vehicle?

In addition to being the registered keeper of an untaxed vehicle, they are saying there’s additionally a law concerning retaining an untaxed vehicle. If you might be on this place, they are saying that “an out of court docket settlement (OCS) letter is issued.

Discussing this, they additional clarify: “OCS set at £30 plus one and a half instances the excellent vehicle tax. If the OCS will not be paid, as a prison offence the case could also be pursued by way of the magistrates’ court docket. The penalty is both £1,000 or 5 instances the quantity of tax chargeable, whichever is larger. Vehicle could also be clamped and extra charges could apply.”

Citing the laws, they further detail that this comes under “The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (VERA) (as amended). Section 29 and Schedule 2A of the Act applies. Vehicle Excise Duty (Immobilisation, Removal and Disposal of Vehicles) Regulations 1997.”