Press release 3: Jodie Kidd launches DVLA’s online car tax

Supermodel and car enthusiast Jodie Kidd today unveils another quick and easy way for Cardiff motorists to tax their cars. Jodie, the face of DVLA’s new online and telephone tax disc renewal service, is visiting the Welsh capital to demonstrate how simple it is for motorists to tax their cars. They can do so wherever or whenever they want without the need for supporting documentation such as MOT and insurance certificates. Tax discs will be dispatched by post and received within three to five working days. Car tax renewals will continue to be available at the Post Office®.

Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling, said:

"People now have a choice, they can renew their licence at the Post Office®, or on the phone or online. This new service is designed to make life easier for people to relicense, giving them the choice and flexibility that best suits their needs."

DVLA Chief Executive, Clive Bennett said:

“Car tax online or by telephone is designed to make the process of relicensing easier and more convenient. Our customers will now be able to renew their car tax from home or even abroad, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This demonstrates the significant progress that DVLA has made in improving the provision and accessibility of its service. It is also an important part of the Agency’s contribution to the wider initiative to modernise Government.”

The new service, created in response to customer demand, demonstrates how DVLA is modernising its services to fit in with changing lifestyles. A recent DVLA poll of the UK driving public revealed that 64 per cent of Cardiff motorists said they would apply for their road tax online if they could². A further 41 per cent of people admitted that the ease of an online or telephone car tax facility will mean that they are more likely to relicense on time¹

Car enthusiast Jodie Kidd said:

“This service is great news for busy people like myself who often find it impossible to complete chores such as renewing a tax disc during a busy working week. Being able to relicense my car wherever and whenever will make the process much easier and not having to search for all my documents is a real bonus!”

The service, which takes less than five minutes to complete, can be used by owners of cars less than three years old (those that don’t require an MOT certificate). Those with cars over three years old will need to ensure they have a computerised MOT certificate which are available at most MOT garages in Great Britain. DVLA will automatically send an invitation to vehicle owners when their car tax is due for renewal, together with a unique reference number to complete their transaction online. Tax discs will be dispatched by post and received within three to five working days. Those who do not wish to use the new service will still be able to renew their tax at the Post Office®.

Notes to editors:

To use the new service, simply log on to www.direct.gov.uk/taxdisc or use the phone line: 0870 850 4444.

DVLA has run pilot tests of the new service since February 2004. To date, 1m British drivers have successfully relicensed using it. It is anticipated that 11m people will have used the service by 2007, and 19m by 2008.

The service will be welcomed by local motorists. New research, conducted by DVLA, has revealed:

• 64 per cent of local people said they would apply for their road tax online if they could ²
• 57 per cent of motorists in Cardiff have admitted to avoiding or delaying paying bills or renewing car
  tax because they can’t find the necessary paperwork, or couldn’t face travelling to do it¹
• 65 per cent of people questioned in Cardiff said bill paying online meant they completed transactions
  on time while 41per cent of people admitted that the car tax on line facility would mean they’re more likely to complete the transaction on time¹
• 66 per cent of Cardiff motorists prefer to pay bills or carry out household administration tasks online
  at weekends or in the evening, when traditional bill paying locations are closed¹

Sources:
¹ YouGov survey of 2,281 UK drivers, December 2005
² Private Motorists Survey 2004 Mori

For interview / photocall opportunity please contact:
MGB Public Relations on 01792 460200

For press enquiries about this new service contact:
Alex, Leonie, Matthew or Fiona at MGB Public Relations on
01792 460200 or fiona@mgbpr.com

For general DVLA press enquiries please contact:
DVLA Press office
01792 782318
press.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk

www.dvla.gov.uk