Dozens of drivers in Swindon found that their vehicles had been clamped due to unpaid tax.

The DVLA’s partner organisation NSL attached bright yellow metal plates to the front wheels of 102 untaxed cars around the town between April 18 and 30.

Some of the affected vehicles were parked on Goddard Avenue, Birch Street, and Lansdowne Road on Tuesday morning.

Adver readers were pleased to see the enforcement action. One said: "It's the tip of the iceberg just like those driving on the roads without insurance, too."

Drivers who have had their cars clamped will have to call the number on the back of the INF32 leaflet that was left in a notice on their vehicle to get it released, and pay for the road tax as well as a £100 release fee.

Or, they must pay a surety fee as a deposit if they do not tax the vehicle before they get it released.

The surety fee will also need to be paid if they intend to keep the vehicle off the road or make a Statutory Off Road Notification.

A DVLA spokesperson said: “We can confirm that DVLA’s wheelclamping partner, NSL, clamped 102 untaxed vehicles in Swindon between April 18 and April 30, 2024.

“This was part of their day-to-day enforcement activity identifying, clamping and impounding untaxed vehicles.

“The message is clear to motorists – if you do not tax your vehicle on time, DVLA will take action - ‘tax it, don’t risk it’.”

The authority does not have to spot an untaxed car on the road to take action, as it operates a range of enforcement measures including fines and penalties as well as on-the-road enforcement such as wheel clamping.  

The DVLA offers a range of options to make it easier for drivers to pay their vehicle tax, including using its online services at www.gov.uk/vehicle-tax which are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and motorists can also pay by direct debit.

Every vehicle registered in the United Kingdom must be taxed if used or kept on a public road.

NSL Services Ltd is the national wheelclamping contractor on behalf of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to enforce against non-compliant vehicles.

Clamped cars may be impounded to a vehicle pound any time after 24 hours.

The release fee then increases from £100 to £200 if left impounded for more than one day.

If the vehicle is not claimed, it could be disposed of by being dismantled, auctioned or scrapped.