The Car Clear Partnership is about to use the powers of the DVLA to tow away untaxed cars left on the roadside.

Following on from the success of clearing the borough’s streets of abandoned vehicles and vehicles being sold on the roadside, the Car Clear Partnership is about to take on the devolved powers of the DVLA and remove untaxed cars from the road.

This means that if an untaxed car is kept on the road it could be towed away within 30 minutes of it coming to the notice of the authorities. The car will be taken to a secure pound and the owner will have to pay in order to get his or her car back. This could cost an owner as much as £490. If any car removed under this scheme is not claimed it could be disposed of after just 7 days, probably by crushing.

The owner of an untaxed vehicle will need to provide proof of identity/ownership and a valid tax disc or pay a refundable surety fee in order to get their car back. To get a refund on the surety, a valid tax disc must be produced within 14 days.

Untaxed vehicles are those most likely not to have insurance or a valid MOT so the scheme will have the added effect of making roads safer to travel on.

In October 2008 the powers will extend into off road areas such as supermarket car parks, council car parks and residents parking areas, so there will be no escape from getting your car road tax.

For further information or to report any untaxed vehicles please contact Graham Carpenter (Car Clear Coordinator) on 01493 333371. This can be done anonymously and all information received will be treated in strict confidence.