DVLA sends warning to drivers ahead of car tax changes 'even if you don't have to pay'

The has urged Brits to check their car is taxed properly ahead of changes next year.

If a vehicle is untaxed and not declared off-road (SORN), drivers could face an £80 fine, which could be £2,500 in some circumstances.

Owners of the most polluting vehicles under Chancellor new , foreshadowing the 2035 ban on petrol and diesel car sales.

The rates for cars, vans, and motorcycles, including hybrid cars and vehicles less than one-year-old, will rise from 1 April 2025.

Posting on social media, the DVLA wrote: "You must tax your vehicle, even if you don't have to pay anything. #TaxItDontRiskIt DVLADigital"

Even though owners of electric cars don't need to pay Vehicle Excise Duty, they must still tax the vehicle.

Drivers will need a reference number from a recent vehicle tax reminder letter, a vehicle log book (V5C) or the green "new keeper" slip from a log book.

Almost a year ago, the DVLA introduced the online "driver and vehicles account" to centralise documents.

Motorists can access their driving records, penalty points, MOT status, vehicle tax and the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Under the tax changes, owners of fully , who currently pay a low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax rate of 2%, will have to increase payments to 5% by 2027/28, which will increase again by 2% each year until 29/30.

The hybrid vehicle tax structure is changing significantly. Rates will be solely based on CO2 emissions rather than the existing consideration of zero-emission mileage.

Excluding first year rates, vehicles emitting between one and 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre will see their rates rise to 18% in 2028/29 and 19% in 2029/30.

Rates for all other vehicle bands will increase by one percentage point annually during these years, with maximum rates reaching 38% and 39%.

When it comes to first-year rates, will pay the lowest at £10 until 2029/30. Cars emitting between one and 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre, including hybrid vehicles, will increase from £10 to £110 for 2025-26, while cars emitting more than 76 grams of CO2 per kilometre will see the rate double.