DVLA issues urgent car tax warning with 250,000 drivers at risk of massive £2,500 fines
Drivers could face huge fines for driving their SORN vehicles on the road without taxing it
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More than a quarter of a million drivers could face a hefty tax bill this summer as the heatwave gets more drivers out on the roads.
New data from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) found that there are more than 870,000 convertibles in garages and on streets across the country.
A further 252,081 convertibles are registered as off-road with a Statutory Off-Road Notification (SORN), bringing the total number of unique car models to 1.12 million.
In terms of popularity, the Mazda MX-5 is the most popular convertible registered with the DVLA, with 35,564 on the road.
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This is followed by the Mini Cooper (21,061), Mercedes SLK 200 Kompressor (12,558), Porsche Boxster (12,055) and BMW Z3 (11,587).
There are also a handful of electric convertibles around the UK including the Fiat 500e (1,801), Smart Fortwo (618), Mini Cooper SE (106) and the Abarth 500e (47).
There are even 43 Tesla Roadster models on the road, despite being one of the rarer vehicles from the Elon Musk-led electric car manufacturer.
Andrea Bishop, Met Office spokesperson, said temperatures would continue to rise, "becoming widely above average" over the coming days, making it the perfect condition for convertible owners.
However, the DVLA warned the 252,000 convertible owners who have delivered their vehicles SORN that they must tax them again before they are driven on the road.
It called on drivers to apply for a SORN or to tax their vehicles again using the DVLA online portal, which is the fastest option available for them.
Drivers who use their SORN vehicles on a public road to go to or from a pre-booked MOT or other testing appointment could be sanctioned.
Anyone who has not properly taxed their vehicle could face prosecution and a fine of up to £2,500 if they use it on the road.
When they SORN their vehicle, drivers will automatically get a vehicle tax refund for any full remaining months left on their term.
The SORN will also immediately start if the vehicle tax has expired or if they are not applying in the month their vehicle tax is due to expire.
It will start on the first day of the month if they apply in the month when their vehicle tax is due to expire. Drivers also cannot backdate their SORN.
Motorists must make a SORN declaration if the vehicle is not taxed, not insured, if they want to break the vehicle down for parts before they scrap it and if they buy or receive a vehicle and want to keep it off the road.
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The Fiat 500e is the UK's most common electric convertible
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Drivers have also been told that their vehicle must stay in the UK for the SORN to be valid, with further guidance available for those looking to take their vehicle out of the UK.
The DVLA also warns that drivers could face an automatic £80 fine for not having a SORN, with further fines on offer if the car is not insured correctly.