Press release 38: DVLA seizes over 1,000 cars in car tax crime crackdown

DVLA advised motorists today to ensure their car tax is up to date after more than a thousand illegal untaxed vehicles were removed from Croydon’s streets.

During the three-month operation a fleet of vans, operated by contractor NCP, caught 1,073 vehicles without a valid tax disc. This is in addition to an earlier operation where 479 untaxed vehicles were seized.

The result of this car tax crackdown operation is great news for road safety in the Croydon area. Since car tax can only be purchased with a valid MOT and insurance certificate, it reduces the number of potentially dangerous, untaxed, uninsured and unroadworthy vehicles on the road, helping to make the roads a safer place.

By targeting untaxed vehicles, DVLA is helping to fight wider vehicle crime. Occupants of untaxed cars are more likely to be involved in criminal activities involving drugs, anti-social behaviour, burglary and violent crime. Therefore, by taking their cars, criminals are denied the use of the road.

NCP's new fleet of vans are specially equipped with state-of-the-art Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology that automatically checks number plates against a list of untaxed vehicles in a matter of seconds.

This is bad news for car tax evaders because any car identified as untaxed will be immediately clamped and possibly impounded and those not claimed after seven days could be crushed.

Roads Minister Stephen Ladyman said: "The clampdown on car tax evasion is great news for law abiding motorists and bad news for criminals. We are committed to helping reduce car crime and making the streets safer for everyone."

Bethan Beasley, Head of Wheel Clamping at DVLA said: "Safety on our roads is front of mind this National Road Safety Week and the success of the Croydon operation marks a new chapter in our fight against car tax evasion. The new vans combined with NCP’s national reach, means we’re able to track down, impound and potentially crush untaxed vehicles quicker than ever before.

"We will continue our work in the Croydon area in the months to come and the results of this operation should make it clear to everyone that there is no hiding place for car tax cheats."

Notes to editors:

• The results of the 2005 Roadside Survey revealed that there are an estimated 1.55m unlicensed vehicles in Great Britain.
• For 2005/2006, the estimated number of unlicensed vehicles in the Metropolitan police force area was 152,800.
• Members of the public can report unlicensed vehicles to DVLA online at www.direct.gov.uk/motoring or by ringing 08000 325 202
• For clamped vehicles the release fee is high, £80. In addition, a valid vehicle licence must also be produced. If a licence cannot be produced, a surety (£120 for a car or motorcycle, up to £600 for other vehicles) must be paid before the vehicle can be released. The surety payment is forfeited if a valid tax disc is not produced within 2 weeks.
• NCP were awarded a 3 year contract to operate DVLA’s wheelclamping scheme, effective from 1 May 2006. In addition to the national scheme, DVLA is also able to authorise local authorities and police forces to wheel clamp and impound untaxed vehicles in their area.

For press enquiries relating to this notice please contact:

Ruth Thomas or Beth Lewis

0207 025 6500

For general DVLA press enquiries please contact:

DVLA Press Office

01792 782318

press.dvla@gtnet.gov.uk