Hundreds of thousands of motorists could be at risk
There are a concerning number of untaxed vehicles on UK roads, with the latest figures estimates to be nearly 500,000. It’s a legal requirement for the person on the registration documents to ensure road tax is up to date.
Those caught behind the wheel of an untaxed vehicle could face a hefty fine of up to £1,000. Earlier this year the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) urged those with cars and other vehicles “don’t forget” in a social media reminder.
The post, issued on X, read in full: “Don’t forget to pay your vehicle tax! You can easily tax your vehicle online at: http://gov.uk/dvla/tax #TaxItDontRiskIt #DVLADigital”.
While it is an offence to drive an untaxed vehicle, there are some exemptions to this. For example, you can drive your vehicle on a road without it being taxed if you are driving it to a pre-booked MOT test.
But you can’t stop anywhere on the way, not even just to pop in for a drink or a snack. And if you’re found to be “covering an unreasonable distance” this will also lead to the exemption not applying.
The RAC adds that disabled drivers may be exempt from paying vehicle tax, while certain vehicles such as electric cars and historic motors may also be excused.
However, even if you don’t need to pay for the tax, you’ll still need to apply for it. If you aren’t sure when your vehicle tax is due, you can find out here
