The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued a renewed reminder to all UK motorists that they must tax their vehicle, even if they do not have to pay anything. The warning comes as data shows hundreds of thousands of vehicles go untaxed each year.
Warning and fines
Anyone caught driving without tax could face a fine of up to £2,500. Recent figures from the Department for Transport indicate that around half a million registered vehicles a year may have unpaid vehicle excise duty. In 2025, more than 150,000 untaxed vehicles were clamped.
DVLA's message
The DVLA posted on X on August 7: "You must tax your vehicle, even if you don't have to pay anything. Tax it online at http://gov.uk/dvla/tax".
Motorists can use gov.uk to tax their car, motorcycle, or other vehicle. They will need a reference number from the green 'new keeper' slip from a log book if just bought, the vehicle log book (V5C) in their name, or a recent vehicle tax reminder or 'last chance' warning letter from DVLA. If none of these documents are available, drivers should apply for a new log book, and officials say they can tax the vehicle at the same time.
Payment and exemptions
Payment can be made by Direct Debit, or debit or credit card. The DVLA emphasizes: "You must tax your vehicle even if you do not have to pay anything because it’s exempt from vehicle tax." They also stress: "You’ll need to meet all the legal obligations for drivers before you can drive."
According to RAC guidance published this year, the standard tax rate for petrol, diesel, or hybrid cars registered after April 1, 2017, is £200. For vehicles with a list price exceeding £40,000 (or £50,000 for electric cars), an additional 'luxury car tax' fee of £440 applies, bringing the annual cost to £640. Drivers may pay less or more if their car was first used before 2017, as the exact fee depends on the year of registration, fuel type, and tailpipe emissions.
Electric cars are not exempt from road tax. As of April 2026, motorists using electric cars under a year old started paying the £200-a-year flat rate.
