News - NSL

Road tax evasion has fallen by more than 40 per cent in the last year, statistics published by the Department for Transport show.

And the dramatic fall has been mirrored by an equally sharp rise in the number of untaxed vehicles clamped or removed by NCP Services, the national on road contractor for the DVLA's enforcement directorate.

In the first two years that NCP Services has run the contract (from May 2006) the number of untaxed vehicles actioned against across the UK has risen from an annual rate of 37,500, in the twelve months prior to them taking over, to an annual rate of more than 114,000 in the twelve months to May 2008.

And the company is on target to remove even more in 2009. Tim Cowen of NCP Services commented: "We have introduced a huge amount of innovation into the way we enforce against untaxed vehicles - with a 300-strong team and ANPR equipped vehicles across the UK, and intelligence-led patrolling methods ensuring we can be ever more effective in finding the tax evaders and immobilising their vehicles."

The effectiveness of the enforcement is backed up by the annual roadside survey, which showed just 1 per cent of vehicles are not licensed, compared to 1.7 per cent in 2007, and that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) collected an estimated 99.1% of all potential revenue from road tax in 2008. In vehicle numbers terms, the amount of tax avoiders has gone down from approximately 589,000 vehicles in 2007 to approximately 330 thousand vehicles in 2008.

Transport Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: "The vast majority of motorists properly license their vehicles, keep them in a good condition and make sure they are fully insured. The small minority who refuse to do so are a menace on our roads and are more likely to be involved in wider criminality.
"The DVLA has made it easier than ever to license a vehicle and is also cracking down on those who refuse to do so - so I am delighted that we have seen such a significant fall in the level of road tax evasion.
"But we are not complacent and will continue to take action against those who fail to license their vehicles. There is no way out for road tax evaders."
The DVLA has put in place a package of measures which means that road tax is now easier than ever to pay, but harder to avoid. This includes:
* Making it more convenient for people to pay their road tax - DVLA's award-winning Electronic Vehicle Licensing service allows millions of vehicle keepers to enjoy the convenience of re-licensing their vehicles direct with DVLA, online or over the telephone. The service is now used by over 40% of customers with over half of all off road declarations now being made online or by phone. Customers can of course continue to use the Post Office too.
* Introducing powers to wheel clamp and impound evading vehicles stored in certain off-road locations.

Mr Cowen commented: "The new powers allowing us onto some off-road locations mean that it is now even harder for the tax-dodgers to evade us. I would expect the number of vehicles clamped or removed to rise again in 2009."

Ends