Millions of UK drivers urged to do quick check this week or face £1,000 fine
Motorists across the UK could be hit with fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to carry out one simple check on their vehicles, according to motoring experts. Roughly half a million vehicles are thought to be on the road without valid tax.
This leaves drivers at risk of enforcement action if they are caught drivingillegally. Darren Miller from BigWantsYourCar.com warned that many motorists simply forget to renew their vehicle tax. This can lead to expensive penalties, but fortunately it's easy to check if you're at risk, and all drivers should do it now.
He said: "A surprising number of motorists assume their vehicle tax renews automatically or simply forget about it, but if your car isn't taxed and you're driving it on the road, you could be facing a fine of up to £1,000."
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Vehicle tax is required for most cars, vans and motorcycles used on UK roads, even if they are only driven occasionally.
However, there are a limited number of exemptions. Motorists are permitted to use an untaxed vehicle when travelling directly to a pre-booked MOT test, but experts warn the rules are stringent, reports the Express.
Darren explained: "You're only allowed to drive an untaxed vehicle if you're going straight to a pre-booked MOT appointment. If you make stops along the way or take an unreasonable detour, that exemption may not apply."
Some drivers may qualify for vehicle tax exemptions, including certain disabled motorists, owners of electric vehicles and those with qualifying historic vehicles. However, even if a driver doesn't have to pay tax, they must still register the vehicle properly with the relevant authorities.
Darren added: "Even if your vehicle is exempt from paying tax, you still need to apply for the exemption. Simply assuming you don't have to do anything could still land you in trouble."
Motorists aged over 70 should also be mindful of separate licensing rules which require them to renew their driving licence every three years. Failing to renew on time could result in drivers being unable to legally drive until their licence is updated.
Checking whether your vehicle is taxed or not takes just minutes. All you need to do is visit the gov.uk website, enter your car's registration number, and confirm the details.
It will tell you straight away if your car is taxed, and when the next payment is due. If it's untaxed, you can also pay this through the government website.
To do this, you'll need a recent vehicle tax reminder or 'last chance' warning letter from DVLA, your vehicle log book (V5C) in your name, or the green 'new keeper' slip from a log book if you've just bought it.