Surge in road tax dodgers since the tax disc was axed

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Martin Saarinen 2017-10-17 11:10

The number of motorists who have had their car clamped for not paying road tax almost doubles in three years

The number of drivers who’ve had their vehicles clamped for failing to pay road tax has nearly doubled since tax discs were abolished in October 2014.

More than 118,000 motorists had their vehicles clamped by the authorities last year for failing to pay Vehicle Excise Duty, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency revealed. This is an increase from 84,660 in 2015 and up from 60,000 in 2014, and represents a near-twofold rise in clampings. 

• 2017 car tax changes explained

Best-selling vehicles such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra were clamped or impounded most often by the authorities, with drivers of 5,000 of each model breaking the law. It costs £100 to release a vehicle on the day it is clamped, rising to £200 thereafter.

In October 2014, the DVLA removed the need for the physical tax disc in order to save on paper. Vehicles can now be fully taxed online, and despite the rise in untaxed vehicles, the DVLA insists only a minority of drivers forget or choose not to tax their cars. 

Bethan Beasley, DVLA’s national wheelclamping manager, said: “Our enforcement teams are out and about on the roads around the UK all year. Their vans are equipped with number plate recognition cameras, so any vehicle that isn’t taxed is at risk of being clamped or impounded.”

Do you think the move to paperless road tax was a good one? Let us know in the comments below.

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