Almost one million Britons risk fines for not paying car tax
DVLA manager explains the importance of taxing your vehicle
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Data from the RAC shows 950,000 drivers had their Direct Debits cancelled in the financial year 2021-22, an increase of nine percent compared to 2020-21. This “worrying increase” is down to motorists being unable to pay their vehicle tax, although it is below the 1.1 million cancelled payments in 2019-20.
Perhaps even more concerning is that between April and December 2022, nearly three-quarters of a million (721,486) had their Direct Debits cancelled.
If this trend continues during the cost-of-living crisis until April 2023, could mean an even bigger total than the 2019-20 financial year.
Under current procedures, a missed payment, or an unpaid Direct Debit results in the DVLA contacting the vehicle keeper to inform them it will attempt a further Direct Debit on a specified date.
If this subsequently fails, the mandate is cancelled and the owner is advised that the vehicle is not taxed.
Failure to tax it another way will lead to the DVLA taking enforcement action.
This can include an automated letter and £80 fine, or if this isn’t paid, the penalty could be increased to a maximum of £1,000 if the case goes to court.
The DVLA also has the power to clamp a vehicle until the correct amount of tax is paid.
The research, which came from a Freedom of Information request, found that drivers overwhelmingly prefer to pay their vehicle tax monthly by Direct Debit, with 86 percent choosing to use this method.
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One in 10 pay annually, with less than four percent paying every six months, perhaps demonstrating that more drivers are looking to spread their payments throughout the year to cope with bills.
Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy for the RAC, said: “Spreading payments helps people budget when paying vehicle tax, so it’s very worrying that some are now struggling to do this.
“With recent RAC research revealing a worrying trend of drivers putting off repairs and cutting back on vehicle servicing because of household budget pressures, we are concerned the increase in the number of cancelled DVLA Direct Debits is part of a bigger picture of people struggling with the running costs of a vehicle.”
If there are two consecutive failed Direct Debits from one bank account, it could lead to the DVLA removing it as an option.
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The number of untaxed vehicles has trebled since tax discs were scrapped in 2014, according to the Department for Transport.
Mr Lyes added: “If drivers are struggling with payments, they should get in touch with the DVLA, particularly if the agency has already contacted them.
“Ignoring the problem carries an £80 fine, along back the outstanding tax. And those who don’t do this risk their vehicles being clamped or crushed.
“While spreading vehicle tax costs can be appealing from a budgeting point of view, drivers should also be aware they will end up paying more if they choose monthly or six-monthly payments than they would if they paid in one go annually.”
The amount drivers pay in vehicle excise duty varies considerably depending on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions and the year it was first registered.
Those vehicles that were sold with a higher list price may also pay a duty premium between years two and five following registration.
Meanwhile, those driving a pure electric vehicle are exempt from road tax completely until 2025 – though must still technically “tax” their car for free.
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