A driver has been slapped with a massive fine worth almost £7,700 for failing to pay just £2.92 in car tax to the DVLA.
Tom Cairney, captain of Fulham FC, admitted that he "completely forgot" to pay the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) on his Audi at his renewal date last September.
The Premier League midfielder's tax expired on September 19, 2024, according to court documents, with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) detecting the car on October 26.
The DVLA said the Scotland international owed less than £3 in tax for a period of just over a month when the vehicle was unlicensed.
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Fulham FC captain Tom Cairney has been slapped with a huge £7,600 car tax fine
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The 34-year-old said: "I just completely forgot I didn’t pay it, so I take responsibility, but the car is now fully insured.
Cairney, who has made 22 appearances for the West London side in England's top division this season, added: "Thanks for your understanding."
Derby Magistrates Court received a guilty plea and handed down a criminal conviction and a fine of £7,692 as a punishment.
The Evening Standard reported that the Fulham captain was prosecuted through the controversial Single Justice Procedure last week.
Drivers using untaxed vehicles on a public road without a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) can be slapped with a fine of £1,000.
People using an untaxed vehicle on a public road with a SORN in force can be fined even more, with a total penalty of either £2,500 or five times the amount of tax chargeable, whichever is greater.
Being the registered keeper of an untaxed vehicle will see a motorist issued with a late licensing penalty (LLP) letter automatically.
This will set them back £80, although it can be slashed to just £40 if paid within 33 days.
Failure to pay the fine can lead to the case being referred to a debt collection agency, which could also lead to the DVLA preventing them from using Direct Debit for future payments.
Tom Cairney has faced issues with his vehicle in recent years, following an incident at Fulham's training ground in August 2022.
Former Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic posted a selfie of Cairney's car with a smashed windshield after a wayward shot in training.
His car was the subject of another incident in September 2023 when he initially blamed Carlos Vinicius for smashing his windscreen, adding: "I wish our strikers could shoot. How's that possible again?"
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Tom Cairney joked that it was time for him to choose a different parking space
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Cairney later issued an apology to Vinicus, blaming a fellow Fulham teammate, Rodrigo Muniz.
Cairney has played more than 500 professional games across his career with Hull City, Blackburn and Fulham, as well as two caps with the Scottish national team.
The central midfielder played four minutes in Fulham's 2:1 win over Southampton over the weekend. His contract is set to expire in the summer.
