If your runabout is tax free you still get fined for not taxing it.

[r4dent]

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that between April 2017 and April 2018 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issued 34,012 penalties to the registered keepers of 'nil-rated' vehicles - vehicles which don't cost any money to tax.

Although most motorists have to pay each year to tax their vehicles, for certain motors with no or low emissions, such as electric cars or Citroen C1s and Peugeot 107s registered pre-April 2017, you don't have to pay anything. However if you plan to use one of these vehicles on the road you DO still have to apply to tax it - even if you pay nothing - to make sure it's licensed.

If you don't, you risk being hit with a hefty penalty fine of up to £80, and you could even be taken to court if caught on the road. Over the last three years a total of 71,060 penalties have been issued to motorists for failing to tax nil-tax vehicles - and more than £1.1 million in fines has been paid.

Warning: 34,000 fined last year for not taxing vehicles which are FREE to tax

 

[delicagirl]

George Orwell would be saying " told you so" ......

 

[QFour]

It’s not the fact that it’s not taxed. Don’t forget that they also check MOT if required and Insurance. I know it sounds daft BUT they are also making money out of it. Clever really when you think about it.

 

[trevskoda]

I thought every one knew that,old m/bikes etc still have to be registered.

 

[colinm]

It's always been the way with farm vehicle and historic.,, so they will be the same

 

[jann]

Very easy to tax and no cost so no reason not to tax it

 

[sasquatch]

Very easy to tax and no cost so no reason not to tax it

Just write a cheque for £0-0p simples.

 

[Channa]

The confusion on "free" vehicles is that they are still "taxed" but at zero rate and all other things like insurance and Mot must be accounted for.

The same applies with VAT everything attracts VAT , But food is zero rated . Utilities 5 % standard rate 20% ....Government did this deliberately for example if they decided to put 3% on food it wouldn't need new legislation.

Channa

 

[molly 2]

Not sure what what the point is. ,the vehicle still has to be taxed , a renewal form is sent to the owner ,filled in or completed on line , in the days of tax disc's a disc was sent with a nill fee , just the same now but no disc is sent . so yes if a vehicle is not taxed you get nicked .:rulez:

 

[ChrisInNotts]

Its not difficult is it? It took me 5 minutes to log on and take my 1975 Honda Chaly motorbike off SORN. I had to click a box to confirm that it had not been substantially modified from original so didn't need a MOT and hey presto I had a road legal motorbike at the cost of £0. Well, that's not strictly true, it cost me £6 to add to my multibike insurance

I rejoice that I am finally getting something from the government for free.

Keith

 

[vwalan]

best is dont do anything like vehicle tax on line or by phone . use the local post offices or they will disappear.
pay as many bills etc as you can through them. keeps folk in jobs and keeps the service going .

 

[Lee]

I think more people with nil rated cars shouldn't renew.
We need the money for the roads but I suppose the fines won't go into road coffer.

 

[vwalan]

Dream on! Last time I wanted to tax a car at a post office, I went online and o see where the nearest one that does car tax was. Our local PO closed years ago.

So I get there, to be told they've never done car tax. I checked the website: no mistake- it says they do car tax. As did the next PO I visited. They have never done it either,despite what the website does

Eventually I did find a PO that doesn't tax. Got it sorted. But that was miles away, I had to pay to park and had to queue to be served.

I've only renewed online since then.

all i can say is i live in a village in the middle of cornwall . the post office closed ,so the local chemists have a post office counter now . they still do road tax , or pay your water bill there etc . they did at one time let you charge your leccy key up but that moved to the village coop store .
like i say if the po. does it keep using it .
i,m now being told they act as a counter for most of the banks as well. so paying in or drawing out use the post office .
i,m a great believer in use it or lose it.
mind in our local town hsbc have closed the branch and now national west minster have shut their branch. again use or lose. too late for them.

 

[molly 2]

INTERNET banking is killing local banks, only a couple of years ago I had wait in a long cue ,now their is one cashier and the bank is empty .

 

[mistericeman]

Frankly from the less than helpful dealings i have had over the years with various local post offices and the retired gestapo staff behind the counters ...IF i never have to set foot in one again it'll be a blessing .

 

[colinm]

Dream on! Last time I wanted to tax a car at a post office, I went online and o see where the nearest one that does car tax was. Our local PO closed years ago.

So I get there, to be told they've never done car tax. I checked the website: no mistake- it says they do car tax. As did the next PO I visited. They have never done it either,despite what the website does

Eventually I did find a PO that doesn't tax. Got it sorted. But that was miles away, I had to pay to park and had to queue to be served.

I've only renewed online since then.

As this, the PO we had in village never did do car tax, it's now closed, the one in next village is still open but has never done car tax, I would have to drive to a town to find one that does car tax, do all ours online now.