Drivers slapped with £500m in fines for car tax issues as Britons risk having vehicles ‘clamped or impounded’
Drivers have been hit with more than £500million in fines for untaxed vehicles between 2021 and October 2024, according to new data.
The alarming figures reveal that almost five million fines were issued during this period, with the annual cost steadily increasing.
In 2021, drivers faced nearly £109million in penalties before jumping to a staggering £132million by October 2024.
Experts said that the data, secured through a Freedom of Information request to the DVLA, highlights a growing problem on Britain’s roads.
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More than 1.8 million online reports of untaxed vehicles were received by the DVLA during the same timeframe, accounting for over a third of all fines issued.
The rising trend suggests many motorists are either forgetting or deliberately avoiding their Vehicle Excise Duty payments.
Beyond financial penalties, the DVLA has taken physical action against many offenders, with more than 600,000 vehicles having been clamped or impounded since 2021 for tax-related offences.
This additional enforcement measure could have cost drivers a further £120million collectively, adding to the total cost, which many find unaffordable.
The data reveals that proactive reporting plays a significant role in identifying untaxed vehicles.
Research suggests that the average driver pays £159 a year for car tax, while failing to pay can cost them £80 in fines.
However, unpaid cases can escalate to court, where penalties can reach up to £1,000, while clamped or impounded vehicles could cost up to £200.
Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, advises: “Car tax is a motoring cost that while may be expensive, it is important to pay.
“If you’re caught driving without tax, then the penalty can be quite significant, especially if your car is clamped or impounded.
“If you pay for your car manually, either annually or monthly, it can be easy to forget when your payment is due. You can easily check your car tax online and if you need to, pay it.”
Jones suggests monthly direct debits as a way to make payments more manageable and reduce the risk of forgetting and being slapped with fines.
While almost a quarter of drivers (23 per cent) opt for the convenience of monthly direct debits, the majority (57 per cent) still choose to pay annually.
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Further data shows that more than a quarter of UK drivers believe that car tax is too expensive, while 22 per cent think it makes running a car unaffordable.