DVLA warns over car tax shake-up 'even if you don't have to pay anything'

The DVLA has issued a warning over an impending car tax shake-up under the new Labour Party government. Motorists and road users have been warned over the changes coming to car tax and Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) under Labour.

The DVLA is warning motorists ahead of car tax changes "even if you don't have to pay anything". If the DVLA identifies that a vehicle is untaxed and not declared off-road (SORN), drivers could be issued with a £80 fine, although circumstances could see motorists fined up to £2,500.

Posting on social media, the DVLA wrote: "You must tax your vehicle, even if you don't have to pay anything." This was accompanied by a link to the DVLA's car tax page on GOV.UK and the hashtags "#TaxItDontRiskIt" and "DVLADigital".

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If you’re not planning to drive your car, it can make sense to SORN your vehicle. Doing so means you won’t have to pay vehicle tax or motor insurance, or have a valid MOT. You can choose to apply for a SORN online, by phone or by post if you’re the registered keeper of the vehicle. If you’re not the registered keeper, then you’ll need to complete the relevant forms by post.

Whilst you can still drive a SORN vehicle on private land, it's illegal to drive it on any public road. You could face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if you do. The only exception is if you’re driving to or from a pre-booked MOT appointment.

If you’re ready to get behind the wheel again, your vehicle must be taxed, insured and have a valid MOT before taking it out on a public road. As mentioned, a SORN lasts until you tax your vehicle again, so you don’t need to contact the DVLA separately to end the SORN.