Car tax - The simple mistake that could land you a hefty fine and see your car clamped
DRIVERS are being made aware of a simple car tax mistake they could be in danger of landing a fine and even have their car clamped.
Car tax: DVLA issues warning to drivers on tax avoidance
The way in which car tax was calculated changed in the UK in 2017, altering how much different drivers stand to pay for their annual cover.
Car tax is calculated on how much CO2 emissions a car produces and increases the more pollution a car emits.
Some drivers can pay up to as much as £2,070 in the first year for the highest polluting vehicles while certain vehicles can pay nothing annually.
Under the new rules, just electric cars that produce 0g/km of CO2 emissions don't have to pay any vehicle excise duty (VED).
However, motorists are making a simple mistake which could see them land a fine and even have their car clamped.
The law requires you to keep your car taxed while on the roads and even if the rate is £0.
Motorists that fail to have car tax can land a fine and even have their vehicle clamped.
A DVLA spokesman said: "The law requires that a vehicle licence must be renewed on an annual or six-monthly basis.
"This applies to vehicles which have a nil rate of vehicle tax, meaning they do not attract a payment.
"This requirement helps us maintain accurate vehicle records, which is important for road safety purposes and traceability.
"We make it clear in all our messages that all vehicles must be licensed, even if the vehicle is subject to a nil rate of vehicle tax and does not attract a payment."
The volume of untaxed cars on the road have tripled between 2013 to 2017.
This has reportedly cost the Government an estimated £107 million in vehicle excise duty in 2016 alone.
A recent case saw a female driver forced to pay £100 to have a car clamp removed from her untaxed car.
The reason the driver failed to tax her vehicle was due to the fact here Peugeot 208 had a £0 road tax bill.
Sharon Taylor, 46, explains: "My car is below the carbon-emissions level so there is no value to my road tax, I told [the DVLA] this.
"They said I should have 'paid' it on their website anyway and said I could receive a fine that may be up to five times the amount of my road tax.
"And they actually sent me a bill for it, saying I owe then five times zero. It makes no sense.
"It took five minutes to register online, but I was just infuriated as it was such a farce.
"I'm a working single parent and work away from home five to six days a week.
"I had received no reminder whatsoever, not via email or through the post telling me that I had to register anyway.
"It is confusing and all in all it's cost me £100."
Car tax first year rates
0 g/km - £0
1-50 g/km - £10
51-75 g/km - £25
76-90 g/km - £105
91-100 g/km - £125
101-110 g/km - £145
110-130 g/km - £165
131-150 g/km - £205
151-170 g/km - £515
171-190 g/km -£830
191-225 g/km - £1,240
226-255 g/km - £1,760
256+ g/km - £2,070