Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of people who were not notified that their vehicle excise duty was due for payment in the latest period for which figures are available; and how much revenue is generated by late or non-payment of that duty.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues more than three million vehicle excise duty reminders each month. Non-delivery of a reminder may happen in certain circumstances such as, the vehicle keeper having moved house and not advised the DVLA of the new address or it may have been lost in the post. No figures are available, but complaints about non-delivery of vehicle excise duty reminders are rare.

There are a number of ways to license a vehicle, including online or by telephone 24 hours a day, seven days a week or at one of around 4,000 Post Office branches across the UK. Customers can also check when their vehicle excise duty is due using the DVLA’s online Vehicle Enquiry Service.

The registered keeper is responsible for ensuring that their vehicle is properly licensed or subject to a Statutory Off Road Notification.

Enforcement activities against unlicensed vehicles accounted for around £88 million in fines and penalties during 2019/20.