- DVLA has launched a new vehicle tax campaign featuring a talking clamp.
- The campaign highlights the easy ways to tax online and reminds motorists of the real consequences of not taxing their vehicles.
- While 98.7% of motorists pay their vehicle tax on time, more than 150,000 untaxed vehicles were still clamped in the UK in 2025.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has launched a new national Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) campaign, ‘Nobody Wins’, reminding motorists of the importance of taxing their vehicles on time.
The campaign introduces a fresh creative concept led by ‘Clampy’, a down-on-his-luck talking wheel clamp. The ads focus on the disruption and consequences felt by drivers who have their vehicle clamped for failing to tax it.
By giving ‘Clampy’ a personality, the creative shows – humour aside – the real frustration of being stuck, quite literally, because a driver didn’t take a few minutes to tax their car. The message is simple it’s quick and easy to tax your vehicle online, so don’t take the risk. The campaign will run across outdoor, audio and online channels until 31 March 2026.
The most recent statistics estimate that 98.7% of vehicles used on the road are taxed. DVLA can take enforcement action direct from their records if you are the keeper of an untaxed vehicle.
DVLA’s enforcement teams and wheelclamping partners travel across the UK as part of their day-to-day activity taking action against untaxed vehicles. Some local authorities and police forces can also clamp vehicles under DVLA’s Devolved Power Partner scheme.
The table below shows the postcode areas across the UK where some of the highest numbers of clamping actions took place in 2025
| Postcode area | Total vehicles clamped in 2025 (including by DVLA’s Devolved Power Partners) |
|---|---|
| London (all postcodes) | 16,557 |
| Manchester (M) | 9,174 |
| Birmingham (B) | 7,369 |
| Cardiff (CF) | 4,213 |
| Glasgow (G) | 4,207 |
| Bristol (BS) | 3,736 |
| Belfast (BT) | 3,017 |
| Edinburgh (EH) | 2,997 |
| Rochester (ME) | 2,882 |
| Sheffield (S) | 2,663 |
Tim Moss CBE, DVLA Chief Executive, said
Most drivers keep their vehicle tax up to date, but if you don’t tax your vehicle on time the consequences can be significant. We remind motorists when their vehicle tax is due and only clamp untaxed vehicles as a last resort.
Having your vehicle clamped is avoidable, as taxing your vehicle is quick and easy to do. You can also pay by Direct Debit, which helps make sure you stay on top of renewals and lets you spread the cost if you want to.
Motorists can tax their vehicle at any time using DVLA’s online service or by calling 0300 123 4321 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. They can also choose to receive vehicle tax reminders by text or email through DVLA’s Driver and vehicles account.