DVLA's free five-minute sign-up could save drivers from paying £2,500 fine

Drivers could face a major fine if they're caught behind the wheel without settling a bill that millions are required to pay. It is a legal obligation for almost all vehicles on UK roads to pay some form of road tax . In a post on X, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said: "Set up your Driver and vehicles account on GOV.UK and you can choose to receive vehicle tax reminders by text or email. Do it today - it only takes five minutes." Drivers can register for the free service here and choose to receive updates via text or email as their renewal date approaches. There are also options to receive reminders when your MOT and photocard licence are due to expire, meaning drivers have no excuse for missing a deadline. To access this free service , you must hold either a driving licence issued in England, Scotland or Wales, or a vehicle log book (V5C) registered in your name. The DVLA notes that drivers "cannot set up vehicle tax reminders if [they] pay by direct debit". Those paying in monthly instalments via direct debit have their tax automatically renewed each year. The DVLA does not issue reminders for these vehicles to avoid drivers accidentally taxing their vehicles twice and being charged double, the Express reports. In the UK, almost all vehicles driven on public roads require vehicle tax, covering cars, vans, motorbikes and HGVs. Even if your vehicle falls within a £0 tax band, you are still legally obliged to register and apply for vehicle tax. A number of exemptions are available on the GOV.UK website . Outside of tax-exempt vehicles, any driver found using a vehicle could face a fine of up to £2,500. When purchasing from a car dealer or showroom, VED should be arranged on your behalf. However, you'll need your own car insurance in place before driving off the forecourt. If you're buying privately, you'll need to sort out your road tax yourself and ensure it's active before taking the vehicle on the road. People can easily find out if their vehicle has up-to-date vehicle tax or has been registered as off the road (SORN). Use the free GOV.UK checker tool here , which requires the vehicle’s registration number. The DVLA is responsible for cracking down on vehicle tax non-payment, and the authority holds the power to clamp your vehicle until the outstanding tax is settled. According to the RAC , drivers who refuse to pay could end up forking out hundreds of pounds in penalties. They said: "If the DVLA system flags up a vehicle as being untaxed and not declared SORN, an automated late licensing penalty letter is issued and a fine of £80 will be sent to the registered keeper. You won't get any points on your licence, and if you pay the fine within 33 days you should receive a 50% discount. "Failure to pay may result in the case being referred to a debt collection agency, which will add further costs. If you are caught using an untaxed vehicle on a public road without a SORN then an out of court settlement letter will be issued. "The fine is £30 plus one and a half times the outstanding vehicle tax. If not paid, as a criminal offence. the case may be followed through the magistrates' court where the penalty is either £1,000 or five times the amount of tax chargeable, whichever is greater. "Driving an untaxed vehicle on a public road with a SORN in force will result in an out of court letter and a £30 fine plus twice the value of the outstanding vehicle tax. If unpaid, the case may be pursued through the magistrates' court where the maximum penalty is £2,500."