25 January 2007

MOTOR TAX EVASION FALLS AGAIN

The overall rate of motor tax evasion in Northern Ireland has fallen again, from 5.4% in 2005 to 5%.

This reduction is contained in the results of a UK-wide roadside survey of evasion of vehicle excise duty (motor tax), carried out by the Department for Transport last summer and published today.

Brendan Magee, Chief Executive of Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland (DVLNI) said: "I am very pleased that, in the third consecutive survey, we have seen a reduction in the rate of evasion in Northern Ireland.

"Since 2002, evasion of motor tax has now reduced by almost 50%. This latest reduction is the result of a sustained effort by the Agency to clamp down on the small percentage of motorists who refuse to pay and who may also be driving without insurance or a test certificate. The introduction of the new tax rules, which means it is an offence to fail to either renew your tax disc or declare that the vehicle is being kept of the road, as well as an increase in wheel clamping activity, and increased use of our mobile number plate reading cameras and joint campaigns with PSNI and other agencies, have all contributed to this success.

"However, there is no room for complacency; evasion in Northern Ireland is still more than twice the GB rate and DVLNI will not be letting up in its drive to catch the tax dodgers."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The roadside survey took place across the UK in June 2006. In Northern Ireland, over 69,000 vehicles were surveyed at 20 sites. Evasion in GB rose from 2.0% to 2.2%.

Further News Media contact DOE Press Office tel 028 9054 0003.

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