Millions of UK motorists are at risk of being hit with a staggering £1,000 fine for an easily overlooked motoring offence—and a simple piece of chalk could be the key to avoiding it.
Experts are urging households to conduct a quick visual check on their vehicles, especially those parked on driveways or in garages for long periods. The crucial warning concerns the legal requirement to tax your vehicle, even if you are not driving it.
The Driveway Tax Trap
Many drivers mistakenly believe that if their car is parked off the public road on private land, they do not need to pay vehicle tax. This is a costly misconception. The law states that unless your vehicle has a valid Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN), it must be taxed at all times, regardless of where it is parked.
Failure to have either a valid tax disc or a SORN declaration can lead to an automatic £80 fine, which can skyrocket to £1,000 if left unpaid.
The Simple Chalk Trick To Avoid A Fine
To avoid falling foul of the law, motoring authorities are recommending a brilliantly simple hack: use a piece of chalk.
By drawing a line on the ground around your car's tyres, you can create definitive proof that the vehicle has not moved since your last check. If the chalk lines remain intact days or weeks later, it provides clear evidence that the car is genuinely off the road and should be declared SORN, protecting you from an automated DVLA fine.
This visual proof can be invaluable if you need to challenge a penalty, demonstrating that the vehicle has not been used on public roads.
How To Properly Declare Your Vehicle Off The Road
Applying for a SORN is a free and straightforward process that can be done online via the GOV.UK website. Once declared, your vehicle must be kept on private land and cannot be driven on any public road until it is taxed again.
Remember: ignorance of the law is not a defence. The DVLA's automated systems continuously check its databases, and fines are issued automatically. Taking two minutes to draw a chalk line could save you a thousand pounds and a major administrative headache.
