Tax dodgers: does the colour of your car make you less likely to pay tax?
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Around 164,500 vehicles were clamped or impounded by the DVLA in 2018 for having no valid tax – the range of cars taken in might surprise you...
Enforcement teams across the UK clamped or impounded over 164,000 vehicles in 2018 – a huge increase from the 118,000 clamped in 2016.
One colour car topped the bill when it came to tax avoidance, with almost 39,000 silver cars taken by the DVLA’s officers.
In 2018, the top 10 most commonly clamped vehicle colours were:
| Colour | Total clamped/impounded |
|---|---|
| Silver | 38,884 |
| Black | 33,013 |
| Blue | 29,093 |
| White | 21,970 |
| Grey | 16,431 |
| Red | 13,327 |
| Green | 5,742 |
| Beige | 983 |
| Yellow | 963 |
| Gold | 743 |
In 2016, the top 10 was much the same, but in a slightly different order:
1. Silver
2. Blue
3. Black
4. White
5. Red
6. Grey
7. Green
8. Yellow
9. Beige
10. Gold
While many of the cars caught out for invalid tax were everyday runarounds, a number of prestige and high-end super cars were also clamped.
The top 10 high-end cars either clamped or impounded in 2018 were:
| Make | Total clamped/impounded |
|---|---|
| Jaguar | 1,305 |
| Porsche | 306 |
| Bentley | 43 |
| Maserati | 31 |
| Tesla | 18 |
| Aston Martin | 16 |
| Rolls Royce | 14 |
| Daimler | 9 |
| Ferrari | 7 |
| Lotus | 7 |
In 2016, the top 10 high-end cars either clamped or impounded were:
1. Porsche
2. Bentley
3. Daimler
4. Aston Martin
5. Maserati
6. Tesla
7. TVR
8. Rolls Royce
9. Ferrari
10. Lamborghini
National Wheelclamping Manager at the DVLA, Bethan Beasley, said: “Our enforcement teams are out and about on the roads around the UK all year. Their vans are equipped with number plate recognition cameras so any vehicle that isn’t taxed is at risk of being clamped or impounded.
“The majority of drivers will never come into contact with our clamping teams as more than 98% of vehicles on the road are correctly taxed. However, those who risk using an untaxed vehicle on the road will have to manage the cost and inconvenience of their vehicle being clamped or impounded.”
How do I tax my car?
You can tax your car – paying the Vehicle Excise Duty, to call it by its formal name – online, over the phone by calling 0300 123 4321 or at your local Post Office.
For more information on car tax, including the new rates and the penalties you face if you’re caught without it, read our guide Car Tax Explained.
