DVLA urges to ‘do it right this moment’ as thousands of cars | Tech News
The DVLA urged people to set up an account online to obtain important reminders (Image: Getty)
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has urged drivers to “do it today” as roughly 150,000 cars had been clamped final 12 months. Neglecting this “five minute” process might land motorists with a nice of up to £1,000.
Taking to social media platform X, the DVLA inspired drivers to create an online account that may ship reminders to tax their automobiles. Car tax, additionally identified as vehicle tax or street tax, is a charge levied for utilizing a motor vehicle on Britain’s public roads.
The income is subsequently distributed in direction of infrastructure enhancements, together with street upkeep and repairs. Drivers can select to pay both yearly or by way of month-to-month instalments.
Failing to pay your vehicle tax will lead to a penalty, which might escalate to as a lot as £1,000 ought to the matter attain court docket. Your vehicle may be clamped or seized if it stays untaxed whereas parked on a public street.
On X, the DVLA stated: “Set up your Driver and vehicles account on http://GOV.UK and you can choose to receive vehicle tax reminders by text or email. Do it today – it only takes five minutes: http://gov.uk/dvla/account.”
Failing to tax your vehicle might see you charged up to £1,000 (Image: Getty)
Having this account not solely allows you to obtain vehicle tax reminders straight to your cell phone, but additionally offers alerts for when your subsequent MOT is due, amongst a vary of different helpful providers.
The DVLA warning comes as figures from final 12 months revealed that, whereas 98.7 per cent of drivers paid their vehicle tax on time, more than 150,000 untaxed automobiles had been nonetheless clamped throughout the UK in 2025. Tim Moss CBE, DVLA chief government, stated: “Most drivers keep their vehicle tax up to date, but if you don’t tax your vehicle on time the consequences can be significant.
“We remind motorists when their vehicle tax is due and solely clamp untaxed automobiles as a final resort. Having your vehicle clamped is avoidable, as taxing your vehicle is fast and straightforward to do.
“You can also pay by direct debit, which helps make sure you stay on top of renewals and lets you spread the cost if you want to.”
How to tax your vehicle
To tax your vehicle, you’ll need a reference quantity from both:
- A latest reminder or a “last chance” notification letter issued by DVLA concerning vehicle tax
- Your vehicle log ebook (V5C) which ought to be registered in your identify
- The inexperienced “new keeper” portion of the log ebook if the vehicle has been newly acquired. If you can not discover these paperwork, you may need to request a alternative log ebook
- Tax funds might be made utilizing debit or credit card, or by setting up a direct debit
Exempt automobiles
Certain automobiles do not have to pay tax. Nevertheless, you are still required to register your vehicle for tax regardless that no cost is needed.
The DVLA’s web site 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 do not tax your vehicle, you may obtain an out-of-court settlement (OCS) letter. The price is set at £30 plus one and a half occasions the excellent vehicle tax sum.
Not paying the OCS might see the case taken to a magistrates’ court docket as a legal matter, with fines reaching both £1,000 or 5 occasions the taxable sum, whichever is larger. Your vehicle may also be clamped, presumably leading to extra charges. But some automobiles do not have to make this cost.
If your car is utilized by a disabled particular person, you may declare the incapacity exemption when taxing your vehicle. Evidence of eligibility for the incapacity exemption can 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 utilized by organisations offering transport providers for disabled people are additionally tax-exempt, though this does not embrace ambulances.
Classic automobiles, particularly these constructed earlier than January 1, 1985, aren’t chargeable for vehicle tax. Owners can confirm their vehicle’s eligibility on the Government web site.
Other automobiles that do not have to pay tax embrace:
- Mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs with a most pace of 8mph on roads and 4mph on pavements
- Lawn mowers
- Steam-powered automobiles
- Tractors
- Agricultural engines
- Light agricultural automobiles used off-road
- “Limited use” automobiles making short journeys (no more than 1.5km) on public roads between land owned by the identical particular person
- Electric heavy items automobiles
For additional particulars, go to the Government web site right here.
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