What happens if my car is stuck, how do I get it free and how much does it cost?

ROUND 2,500 vehicles are pinned every week for not having road tax, but that number has risen as people risk being pinned.

The government fined over 97,000 Londoners for not taxing their cars in 2021 and no vehicle is safe, from double-decker buses to Mercedes.

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Discovering a clamp on your car can mess up your day

What happens when my car is clamped?

Cars are usually trapped because they are parked improperly in public parking lots, or because they are untaxed and on a public road.

But if you’ve been pinned down in a private parking lot, you’ve been illegally assaulted.

Tensioning on private property has been prohibited since 2012.

In this situation, ask for the clamp to be removed – even if you parked incorrectly, but you may still have to pay a fine.

However, if you have made a mistake parking in an area regulated by a local government, they can legally ban the car. This is often the case when parking endangers other road users.

The DVLA uses automatic license plate readers to detect untaxed cars on our roads.

If you have been legally restrained, follow the instructions posted on the vehicle.

You may be asked to pay on the spot or instead within a short timeframe of around 14 days.

It is advisable not to attempt to forcibly remove the clamp yourself as this could result in an offense for which you could be prosecuted.

How do I get it released?

In most cases you should simply follow the instructions on a sticker attached to your car.

You will need the reference number to provide and there is usually a phone number you can call.

The agency will determine the fee you must pay to release the clamp.

If your car is not taxed, the DVLA may decide to bring it down to a pound.

If your car has been removed, contact the local police on 101 or at the nearest station.

How much does it cost?

You have to pay a hefty fee to have the device removed.

It will be more expensive if you have not paid your vehicle tax.

In this case the fee can be up to £200.

For minor issues, charges can start at around £50.

If you don’t pay You might see your car sold or scrapped as early as two months after your tax is due.

Over 98 percent of people pay their road tax on time, but there has been a small increase in people at risk of arrest.