DVLA chiefs have issued an urgent car tax warning to road users with half a million motorists thought to be breaking the rules.

In a social media message, the DVLA urged road users to “tax their vehicles” as soon as possible and not “risk” facing the consequences. 

The latest warning comes just months after data for 2023 showed almost half a million road users were dodging the annual charge. 

Vehicle taxation and clamping down on evaders is a major part of the DVLA’s remit with experts regularly warning road users about the risks.

They posted on social media platform X: “Use our safe and secure online service to tax your vehicle #TaxItDontRiskIt #DVLADigital.”

Data from 2023 showed that an estimated 498,000 vehicles in the UK active stock did not have valid vehicle tax in a major blow. 

This equates to around 1.2 percent of all vehicles in circulation and rising to 1.3 percent of models.

The figures were down from a non-compliance level of 1.9 percent back in 2021 but significantly higher than in previous years. 

Evasion rates stood at just the 0.6 percent figure back in 2013 before paper tax discs were axed in October 2014. 

A previous estimate from 2021 claimed the potential revenue lost from evasion could be around the £119 million mark.  

If this is not paid, bills could rise to £1,000 or five times the amount of road tax owed.

Driving a vehicle which has been declared off the road is even worse with a maximum penalty of up to £2,500 likely to be issued.

In some circumstances, the DVLA will have the power to clamp vehicles or take them away.

Compare the Market claims it is possible to use vehicles without paying tax if drivers are exempt from charges or travel in an electric vehicle.

However, even those with exemptions in place will still have to legally apply to tax their vehicles every year.