Drivers fined £500m over almost 4 years for not taxing their vehicle, new data reveals

• More than £132 million in fines were issued last year alone, compared to almost £109 million in 2021.
• Since 2021, more than 600,000 vehicles have been clamped or impounded by the DVLA.
• More than 1 in 10 (11%) - equivalent to 4.6 million drivers - admit their car has been untaxed for a period of time, with 1 in 4 (25%) cancelling the payment because they couldn’t afford it.
• Meanwhile, more than 2 in 5 (44%) left their car untaxed after forgetting to pay it after it expired.
• Do you know if your car tax is due? Confused.com launches a car tax checker to help people avoid penalties.

Drivers have collectively been fined more than £500 million between 2021 and October 2024 for not taxing their vehicles, new data reveals¹.

That’s according to new Freedom of Information data obtained by Confused.com from the DVLA. The data shows an alarming number of drivers being penalised for not taxing their cars over the past 4 years.

This amount is a result of almost 5 million fines issued to drivers from January 2021 to October 2024. And according to the data, more than a third (36%) of these fines could’ve come from proactive reports to the DVLA². That’s as more than 1.8 million online reports were received for untaxed vehicles over the same period.

The cost and number of fines issued has increased over the years. In 2021, 1,152,970 fines were issued, equating to almost £109m in fines. Meanwhile last year, 1,164,110 fines were issued up to October - a cost of £132 million in fines.

Car tax fines and reports 2021 - October 2024

Car or road tax, otherwise known as Vehicle Excess Duty (VED) is a UK-wide tax paid by drivers. The tax allows drivers to legally drive or park a car on public roads. The cost varies depending on vehicle type and is typically based on the registered CO2 emissions. According to further research, the average UK driver pays £159 per year for their tax. However, not paying this can result in a fine of up to £80, which can be reduced if paid within a certain period of time. If this isn’t paid, the case can go to court where the fine could increase up to £1,000³. Not only this, vehicle owners could also face their car being clamped or impounded for failure to pay road tax. This carries further financial penalties of up to £200.

According to the data, more than 600,000 vehicles have been clamped or impounded since 2021. This means that drivers could have forked out a further £120 million collectively, as a result of not paying their road tax⁴.

And according to further research, even more drivers could be at risk of paying these fines. In a survey of 2,000 UK drivers, more than 1 in 10 (11%), equivalent to 4.6 million motorists⁵, have left their car untaxed. Worryingly, for 1 in 4 (25%), they knowingly cancelled the payment because they couldn’t afford it. However, for many (44%), an admin oversight meant that they forgot to renew their tax after it expired. A third (33%) moved house and forgot to renew their details.

With a worrying number of drivers on the road without valid tax, Confused.com has launched a ‘car tax checker’. This is a quick and simple way for a driver to check if their vehicle is taxed. Almost 1 in 4 (23%) drivers take the stress-free route of paying for their tax by monthly direct debit. But almost 3 in 5 (57%) still opt to pay for their tax annually. This puts them at risk of forgetting payments and as a result, a financial penalty.

This mistake has cost drivers a significant amount in the past, with the average fine reaching £171. This is not too much more than the average annual road tax cost (£154). However, more than a quarter (26%) of UK drivers think tax is too expensive.A further 1 in 5 (22%) claimed it makes running a car unaffordable.

However, driving an untaxed vehicle is an offence, and one that can carry a very hefty penalty if caught. Paying by monthly direct debit can split the cost to make it more affordable, and reduces the risk of being fined.

Rhydian Jones, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, comments, “Car tax is a motoring cost that while may be expensive, it is important to pay. If you’re caught driving without tax then the penalty can be quite significant, especially if your car is clamped or impounded. If your car isn’t taxed, then you could be found out if you’re pulled over by the police, or receive another motoring penalty. Equally, people can report it online to the DVLA. While it won’t add points to your licence, the fine can set you back a fair amount. And that’s on top of the missed tax you’ll have to pay.

“If you pay for your car manually, either annually or monthly, it can be easy to forget when your payment is due. While the DVLA will remind you, it’s important to make a note of the date ahead of time so you don’t risk driving without it. You can easily check your car tax online and if you need to, pay it. Planning ahead means you’re not risking a fine and the inconvenience of having your car clamped or removed!”

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Notes to editors