DVLA vehicle tax & refund scam
Scammers impersonate the DVLA with texts and emails about a failed vehicle tax payment, a refund you're owed, or your car being 'untaxed' — to harvest your card and personal details.
“DVLA: Our records show your vehicle is no longer taxed. Avoid a £1,000 fine by updating your details: gov-uk-vehicletax.com/pay”
How it works
The message claims your latest car tax payment failed, your vehicle is no longer taxed, or you're due a refund, and links to a fake DVLA page. It asks for your card and personal details to 'fix' the payment or 'release' the refund. The official-looking branding and the fear of a fine make people act without checking.
Warning signs
- A text or email saying your vehicle tax failed or you're owed a refund
- A link to a site that isn't gov.uk
- Requests for card details, bank details, or your driving licence number
- Threats of a fine, penalty, or your vehicle being clamped
- Generic greetings and a sense of urgency
What to do
- Don't tap the link — the DVLA only uses gov.uk
- Check or pay vehicle tax directly at gov.uk/vehicle-tax
- Report scam texts to 7726 and forward scam emails to report@phishing.gov.uk
- If you entered card details, call your bank straight away
Frequently asked questions
- Does the DVLA send refund or tax links by text?
- No. The DVLA never sends texts or emails with links asking for payment or bank details. Genuine vehicle tax and refunds are handled only through gov.uk.
- How can I tell a real gov.uk link?
- Real UK government services always end in gov.uk (e.g. gov.uk/vehicle-tax). Anything like 'gov-uk-tax.com' or 'dvla-refund.net' is fake.