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UK scam guide · updated 27 September 2026

DVLA scam texts and emails

Texts and emails claim your vehicle tax payment failed, your licence needs updating or you're owed a refund, and link to a fake page that collects card and bank details. DVLA says refunds are automatic and the only official place for its services is GOV.UK.

What it looks like

  • “Your vehicle tax payment failed” or “your tax is overdue, update your details”
  • A vehicle-tax refund you can claim through a link
  • Threats of a fine or your vehicle being clamped if you don't act today
  • A link that isn't on gov.uk

What the real organisations say

  • “DVLA will never ask you for your bank account details or ask you to confirm payment details. We will only ask you to confirm your personal details by email or text if you have a live enquiry with us.”

  • “And vehicle tax refunds are issued automatically – never via an email with a link!”

  • “The only place to access official information on DVLA and its services is GOV.UK.”

In 2024, almost 20,000 customers called DVLA's contact centre to report fraudulent activity. Source

What our visitors report

No visitor has reported dvla or vehicle tax scams on WhoCalledLookup yet. If you’ve had one, add it with the form below so the next person who checks it sees it.

What to do

  1. 1

    Check your vehicle tax on GOV.UK

    Type gov.uk yourself and use the vehicle-tax check. Don't use the link in the message.

  2. 2

    Forward texts to 7726, emails to report@phishing.gov.uk

    Both are free and get the sender blocked and the site taken down.

    NCSC: Report a scam email ↗
  3. 3

    Entered bank or card details?

    Call your bank on 159, then report to Report Fraud (0300 123 2040), or Police Scotland on 101.

    Report Fraud (replaced Action Fraud on 4 Dec 2025) ↗

Had one? Report it

Your report helps the next person who checks the same message, link or number. It’s published as a visitor report after our daily moderation.

What did you get?

Before saving we automatically remove names, phone numbers other than the scammer’s, email addresses, postcodes, street addresses, and card, sort-code and account numbers, and we keep only the host of any link. Please name only the organisation the scammer pretended to be; don’t accuse a real business or person. See our privacy notice.

DVLA scams: FAQs

Does DVLA text you about vehicle tax?

DVLA says it will never ask for your bank account details or ask you to confirm payment details, and only asks you to confirm personal details by email or text if you have a live enquiry with it. Refunds are issued automatically, never via a link.

Is the “vehicle tax payment failed” text real?

Treat it as a scam. Check your vehicle's tax status on GOV.UK directly; DVLA says GOV.UK is the only place for its services.

How do I report a DVLA scam?

Forward texts to 7726 and emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. If you've lost money, contact your bank and Report Fraud.

Sources (checked 26 September 2026)

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