The DVSA has changed its payment provider which has introduced the option for motorists to use Apple Pay and Google Pay when paying roadside fines. The update happened on Wednesday (May 29).
As a result there may be in a slightly different appearance of the payment page for standard card transactions, although the changes are expected to be minor and won’t require users to alter their payment process. According to a DVSA spokesperson, the new system will provide a more streamlined payment experience, particularly for smartphone users, stating: “Many people will find this quicker and easier than a standard card payment, especially when using a mobile phone.”
As the authority responsible for issuing Fixed Penalty Notices in Britain, the DVSA can fine drivers for various offences related to vehicle condition, driver hours, and licensing, affecting both domestic and international drivers. The system is used for payments related to court deposits, immobilisation fees, and fixed penalties for vehicle defects or other offences, such as violating drivers’ hours regulations, reports Bristol Live.
The offences that typically attract a DVSA road fine include:
Driver’s hours and tachograph offences
- Exceeding daily or weekly driving time limits.
- Not taking required breaks or rest periods.
- Failing to use a tachograph.
- Using a defective or tampered tachograph.
- Falsifying or failing to produce tachograph records.
Vehicle roadworthiness
- Driving with defective brakes, tyres, lights, suspension, or steering.
- Dangerous load securing or overloaded vehicles.
- Failure to carry out proper daily walkaround checks.
- Operating an unroadworthy vehicle (may result in a prohibition as well as a fine).
Licensing and documentation
- Driving without a valid driver’s licence or correct entitlements (e.g., no HGV licence).
- Operating without a valid Operator’s Licence.
- No MOT certificate (if required).
- Lack of vehicle insurance or road tax.
- Failure to produce required documentation (e.g. vehicle registration, insurance).
Weight and load offences
- Overloading axles or gross vehicle weight.
- Incorrect or dangerous load securing.
- Incorrect use of trailers.
Emissions and mechanical defects
- Emissions tampering (e.g., AdBlue cheat devices or DPF removals).
- Using a vehicle that does not meet emissions standards.
Driver conduct and road safety
- Using a mobile phone while driving.
- Driving without wearing a seatbelt.
- Poor vehicle condition leading to immediate prohibition.
- Excessive vehicle noise or emissions.
Fines and penalties
- Fines can range from £50 to £300 per offence, depending on severity.
- Multiple fines can be issued at once (e.g., for both driver hours and vehicle defects).
- In serious cases, vehicles may be immobilised until issues are resolved or fines are paid.
- Foreign drivers/operators may be required to pay on-the-spot deposits.
Moreover, for those with older, more eco-friendly cars, roadside fines aren’t the only payments they need to be aware of. As of last month, changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) mean that some motorists could see a price hike of £150 a year or more on their car tax bills.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), also known as car tax, is a yearly financial commitment for every vehicle registered in the UK, and from April 1, it has experienced a rise in cost, hitting some drivers with a “major financial shock” says one breakdown specialist.
Jack Cousens remarked: “VED changes and future increases threaten a major financial shock to the finances of millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the 2001-2017 CO2-banded system.”
He added: “For those with ageing low-CO2 small family and city cars, the transition to the current standard VED rate could see a hike of £150 or more a year on their motoring tax.”
Cousens highlighted the impact of this increase by outlining: “With the average car currently paying £436.84 in fuel duty a year – or £524.21 when VAT is added at the pump – a £150 increase in the VED they will pay represents a 34% hike on top of what they are paying in fuel duty.”
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