Vehicle excise duty evasion statistics 2010

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Summary

This publication presents estimates of vehicle excise duty evasion, derived from a sample of vehicles observed being driven on British roads in an annual roadside survey.

DfT is assisted by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Agency (Northern Ireland) in establishing which observed vehicles are, and are not, taxed and licensed as required by law.

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Vehicle excise duty evasion statistics 2010 (PDF – 107 KB)

Key points

The overall rate of unlicensed vehicles in Great Britain traffic was estimated to be 0.8 per cent in 2010. This represents an increase from an estimated 0.5 per cent in 2009.
The overall rate of unlicensed vehicles ‘in-stock’ in Great Britain was estimated to be 0.9 per cent in 2010, equivalent to approximately 307,000 vehicles. In 2007, the estimated rate was 0.7 per cent, equivalent to around 225,000 vehicles.
The ‘in-stock’ estimates of the rate of unlicensed vehicles are slightly higher than the ‘in-traffic’ estimates as unlicensed vehicles travel, on average, fewer miles than licensed vehicles. This means that they less likely to be observed in traffic on the road.
It is estimated that vehicle excise duty evasion could cost around £46 million in lost revenue in 2010/11, up from an estimated £32 million in 2009/10.