DVLA warning as drivers could be hit with ?1,000 fines

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a warning as motorists could be hit with fines of up to £1,000.

The DVLA is the Government department that issues driving licences, takes car tax payments, and essentially keeps tabs on all drivers. In a post on X, formerly Twitter ^[1], earlier this week the DVLA issued a “don’t risk it” warning to all motorists.

It said: “Don’t forget to pay your vehicle tax! #TaxItDontRiskIt”.

Statistics published by the Department for Transport showed there were more than 700,000 untaxed vehicles on UK roads in 2023. The registered keeper of the vehicle is responsible for keeping the tax up to date.

If you are found to be driving an untaxed car, van or other vehicle, you could be fined up to £1,000. However, according to the RAC website, there are some exemptions to the rule.

For example, if you are taking your car to a pre-booked MOT test, you can drive your vehicle to the appointment without it being taxed. The law doesn’t state how far you can travel but if you were to stop at the shops or somewhere else on the way, it could be deemed you’re using the vehicle for other purposes and therefore breach the exemption.

If you’re caught driving without a valid VED, an automated letter and a fine will be sent to the address of the registered keeper of the vehicle, which is likely to be you. You could then be hit with a fine of up to £1,000.

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References

^{^} Twitter (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^{^} Petrol and diesel drivers to be hit with £140 charge in 2024 (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
^{^} Warning as police start enforcing new 20mph limits on 1,700 roads (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)
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^{^} Win £1000 worth of energy-efficient Hotpoint appliances to power up your winter savings (www.liverpoolecho.co.uk)