Road tax increase will affect 9 million drivers
The new emissions-based rates of road tax, which will come into effect in April 2009, will leave 9 million motorists out of pocket – four times higher than previous government estimates. The fact the tax increase is in part retrospective, has angered politicians across all parties.
Find out how much you will pay next year here
The government had previously claimed the increases would leave no more than 2.3 million drivers out of pocket by between £100 and £245 a year and that the majority of drivers would benefit from the change, but Treasury minister Angela Eagle yesterday admitted that only 34 per cent of motorists will pay less under the new system.
A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA)said: “The government seems unable to get its sums right – the number of people who it says will pay more under these changes has risen from 1 million to 2.3 million and now stands at over 8 milion.”
Green car taxes
The existing system of emissions-based vehicle excise duty (road tax) is already having a marked effect on the buying habits of company car fleet managers, and these greener choices are in turn changing the make up of the second hand market. According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, average emissions from new cars fell 3.2% in the six months to June, more than the previous biggest annual drop of 2.2% in 2000.
“Higher polluting cars should face some form of punitive taxation, but it is vital that green taxes are seen as well thought through and fair – it’s questionable whether a sharply-increased retrospective tax will ever be seen in that way.”
The ETA believes that the burgeoning costs of motoring make a new case for national road user charging, for not only would such a system cut congestion and thereby help reduce emissions, it would save motorists money as there would no longer be any need for fuel duty or vehicle excise duty; most roads, most of the time, have no congestion, so many people would pay less.
Road tax rates 2009
Check your car’s CO2 emissions on your V5c vehicle registration certificate – you will find the information on the second page in section 4. Once you have this information find out how much you will pay next year here
Related articles:
Road tax increases postponed
Backdating VED is a bad policy
New car tax: How much will you pay in 2009?
Fuel duty increase is postponed
The ETA is a not-for-profit ethical organisation providing motorists and cyclists with carbon-neutral breakdown cover and insurance products. As well as encouraging responsible driving to reduce carbon, the ETA campaigns for sustainable transport.
