Drivers in Lincolnshire are being warned that the tax disc changes in October 2014 could see their cars clamped.

As you may already be aware, in October 2014, the DVLA introduced new rules which   means that motorists are no longer obliged to display a tax disc on their windscreens.

From this date, police cameras check a car’s licence plate to establish whether the tax has been paid.

According to Horncastle News, there has been a dramatic rise in the number of vehicles being clamped and this could suggest that drivers are unaware of another change which took place.   When a car’s ownership changes, the tax is automatically cancelled.

Therefore, if you have bought a used car, its your personal responsibility to tax your new vehicle at the same time as you take ownership.  One of the perks of purchasing a second hand car used to be that you could benefit from the tax that’s already been paid. Sellers can no longer sell the vehicle with “six month’s tax” available.

What happens now is that sellers get a refund for any tax paid.

Before the new legislation, agencies working on behalf of the DVLA clamped about 5,000 vehicles a month. This has now soared to almost 8,000 – with some towed away without even a warning letter.

A DVLA spokesman said: “The changes have been widely publicised and we write to every vehicle keeper to remind them of the new rules before the vehicle tax expires.

“We also write to every new vehicle keeper when they buy a used vehicle to inform them that they must tax the vehicle before they use it.

“In addition, if a driver does not tax their car we will send a warning letter to remind them to tax as they are at risk of enforcement action.”

You can look up the tax status of any vehicle by using DVLA’s Vehicle Enquiry System

SOURCE:  Horncastle News