Drivers in the UK have been urged to carry out a five-minute task now to help them avoid a potential fine of £1,000. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) told people to sign up for vehicle tax reminders.
These reminders can be sent via text or email to ensure you don’t forget to tax your car or motorbike. In a post made to X, the DVLA said: “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 five minutes.”
Failing to pay your car tax could ultimately result in a £1,000 charge. This fee, which is also known as vehicle tax or road tax, is a charge for operating a motor on the UK’s public highways.
The money is then designated for infrastructure enhancements such as road maintenance and repairs. If you fail to tax your vehicle, you’ll receive an out of court settlement (OCS) letter.
The fee is set at £30 plus one and a half times the amount of due vehicle tax. Non-payment of the OCS could see the matter escalated to the magistrates’ court as a criminal offence, where penalties can hit either £1,000 or five times the taxable amount, whichever sum is higher.
Your vehicle is also at risk of being clamped, with extra charges potentially being incurred.
How to tax your vehicle
To do so you will need a reference number that can be found in:
- A recent vehicle tax reminder or ‘last chance’ warning letter from DVLA
- Your vehicle log book (V5C) – it must be in your name
- The green ‘new keeper’ slip from a log book if you’ve just bought it
On GOV.UK it says: “If you do not have any of these documents, you’ll need to apply for a new log book. You can tax your vehicle at the same time.”
You can tax your vehicle online here or you can call the DVLA vehicle tax service on 0300 123 4321. This phoneline is available 24 hours a day.
You can also tax your vehicle via a Post Office that deals with vehicle tax. You need to take either:
- The payment for your vehicle tax
- Your bank or building society account details to set up a Direct Debit
You will not need these payment details if your vehicle is exempt from tax.
You also need to take one of the following:
- Your vehicle log book (V5C) (it must be in your name)
- The green ‘new keeper’ slip from a log book if you’ve just bought it
You might also need to show evidence of an MOT (it must be valid when the tax starts). For example, a screenshot of your vehicle’s MOT history or your MOT certificate, if you have one.
