DVLA urges drivers to set up key reminders for | Tech News

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a essential message to drivers nationwide. The Government physique, accountable for over 52 million driver information, is urging car house owners to guarantee they make an important fee.

Posting on X, previously generally known as Twitter, the company suggested: “Do you know when your vehicle tax is due? With a Driver and vehicles account, you can choose to receive vehicle tax reminders by text or email! Make life a little easier, it only takes around 5 minutes.”

The quantity of vehicle tax owed primarily will depend on components resembling engine measurement, sort of fuel, and CO2 emissions, in addition to when your car was first registered. Based on RAC figures, most motorists are anticipated to pay roughly £195 on car tax in 2026, though this quantity could fluctuate from individual to individual.

“Cars first registered after April 2017 are still liable for the first-year ‘showroom tax’, with the first year rate based on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions,” advice from the RAC explains. “From year two, the standard rate is applied and drivers are required to pay £195 per year while new cars with a list price of more than £40,000 (or £50,000 for electric cars) pay an additional £425 for the first five years the standard rate is applied. 

“The street tax system modified again April 2025 with electric vehicles charged for VED for the primary time. New electric vehicles are subject to the usual price of VED and the costly car supplment, EVs are additionally subject to the first-year showroom tax (which applies to automobiles with CO2 emissions 1 to 50g/km).”

For guidance on your vehicle tax responsibilities, visit GOV.UK. Generally, you’ll require a reference number from your vehicle log book (V5C, which should be registered in your name) or the green ‘new keeper’ slip if you’ve recently acquired the vehicle.

If these documents are not readily available, you’ll need to request a new logbook and can also arrange your vehicle tax during this procedure. A recent vehicle tax reminder or ‘last chance’ warning letter from the DVLA may also include the required reference number.

Motorists seeking help can reach out to the DVLA by dialling 0300 123 4321 for its round-the-clock service or visit a local Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. Alternatively, if you’d like to receive automatic reminders, you can set up a Driver and Vehicles account on GOV.UK and organise for emails or texts.

Besides this, the DVLA has previously urged drivers aged 70 and over to ensure their driving licences are current. The agency typically dispatches reminders prior to an individual’s 70th birthday and each time a licence needs renewal thereafter.

Under existing rules, older drivers are not required to retake their driving test at 70, but they must complete a health declaration to obtain their new licence.

Those with medical conditions or disabilities might then need an assessment of their driving skills. For licence renewal applications, people over 70 generally need to provide these details:

• A valid UK passport number (if you want to change the licence photo)
• An email address
• Addresses of where you’ve lived for the last three years
• National Insurance number (if you know it)

For more information, head to GOV.UK.