The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has warned a huge number of drivers could face a £1,000 penalty – as nearly half a million untaxed vehicles are currently on UK roads.
It’s the duty of the vehicle’s registered keeper to ensure it is taxed, with penalties for driving an untaxed vehicle reaching up to £1,000. And in a new post on X, formerly Twitter, DVLA has reminded motorists of this fact.
The post reads: “You must tax your vehicle, even if you don’t have to pay anything.
“Tax it online at gov.uk/dvla/tax #TaxItDontRiskIt #DVLADigital”. Further DVLA guidance explains that some motorists may not be required to pay vehicle tax.
Exemptions might apply to specific vehicle types or to people with certain disabilities. However, even those exempt from payment must still register for tax.
If you’re uncertain about your vehicle tax due date, you can check it here. While driving an untaxed vehicle is illegal, there are exceptions, such as travelling to a pre-arranged MOT test, notes the RAC.
However, any detours or excessive travel distance to the test centre, including even quick stops, will invalidate this exemption.
According to Gov.uk advice the following vehicles may be exempt from road tax:
- Vehicles used by a disabled person and disabled passenger vehicles
- Vehicles produced before January 1, 1985
- Mobility vehicles and powered wheelchairs with a maximum speed of 8mph and a device that limits this to 4mph on footways
- Electric vehicles that source energy from a chargepoint, an electric storage battery not connected to any source of power when the vehicle is moving, or hydrogen fuel cells
- Steam-powered vehicles
- Mowing machines
- Vehicles used for agriculture, horticulture and forestry
- Vehicles with a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN)
