Tackling untaxed vehicles
Published
Wednesday 30 September, 2026
Updated
Wednesday 30 September, 2026
Untaxed cars were the target of a regular crackdown on illegal vehicles in Swale.
Swale Borough Council teamed up with Kent Police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to identify and take enforcement action against untaxed vehicles across the borough.
During the day of the operation:
- 6 untaxed vehicles were removed off the street
- 13 untaxed vehicles were clamped
- 1 warning notice was issued
Further action took place in the following days thanks to the evidence collected during the enforcement day.
Driving or keeping an untaxed vehicle on a public road is against the law.
Motorists who fail to tax their vehicles face financial penalties, the risk of having their vehicles clamped or impounded and even court action.
Cllr Dolley Wooster, chair of Swale Borough Council’s environmental services and climate change committee, said:
“The majority of Swale’s residents do tax their vehicles helping fund crucial investment into our infrastructure, but these joint operations make sure that those who try to evade tax also pay their fair share.
“While abandoned vehicles can clog our roads and become magnets for antisocial behaviour.
“Working with these agencies has proven to be a massive success and we look forward to joining forces again, sharing resources and expertise, to continue our crack down on untaxed vehicles in Swale.”
Kent Police Sergeant, Clare McLean, said:
“The operation provided a highly visible enforcement presence, helping to deter offending, removing non-compliant vehicles from the roads, and therefore making road users in the area safer.
“It also offered an opportunity to engage with the public, finding out their views and providing advice.
“This activity highlights the benefits of effective partnership working, with agencies coming together to address issues that matter to local communities and improve the safety and quality of life for residents.”
A DVLA spokesperson said:
"This joint operation with Swale Borough Council and Kent Police demonstrates how working closely with partner organisations helps us identify and take action against untaxed vehicles that should not be on the road.
"Whilst over 98% of vehicles are taxed correctly, DVLA uses enforcement action, including clamping and impounding, against the small minority of drivers who break the law.
"Taxing a vehicle is quick and easy through our online services, with the option to spread the cost by Direct Debit."
You can go online, 24 hours a day, to tax a vehicle or check whether their vehicle tax is up to date.
If you’re keeping the vehicle off the road, it must either be taxed or have a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).
You must tax your vehicle, even if you do not have to pay anything.
