From: McKevvy on
Road tax on many new cars bought from today will double, hitting £950
for the largest vehicles.

The owners of more than six million cars already on the road also face
road tax rises more than double the rate of inflation.

Under a new Government “green tax” regime, Vehicle Excise Duty rates
have been changed to reflect the emissions from car engines.

A total of 13 emission 'bands’ have been introduced, with the owners
of the highest polluting vehicles paying the most in road tax - and
significantly more than before the changes.

An additional one-off 'showroom tax’ will also apply to anyone who
wants to buy a new car in one of the most polluting bands. Cars in
nine of the 13 bands will incur this tax.

The increases were announced in 2008 but only take force today.
Motoring groups said the taxes are an unfair penalty on drivers.

Based on last year’s sales figures, around 1.4 million cars that incur
a showroom tax will be sold in 2010/11.

Under the scheme, new cars with the largest emissions will incur a
levy of £950 in their first year when the showroom tax and higher road
tax bills are combined.

That is more than twice the rate levied on the biggest emitters
already on the road.

Smaller cars with low emissions will face no tax in their first year.

The Treasury said the new tax regime would “send a stronger signal to
the buyer about the environmental implications of their car purchase”.

But critics said the measures are simply another revenue-raising
measure imposed on motorists already hurt by high fuel prices.

The top rate of showroom tax is targeted at high-emitting “supercars”.

Every new car built by Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce will face
a £950 tax, as will most new Jaguars. So will some Range Rovers and
the Vauxhall Insignia 2.8.

At the other end of the scale, new cars with low emissions, including
the Audi A3 1.6 TDI and the BMW 316d will pay no road tax in the first
year.

According the AA, around 1.44 million cars last year were sold which
would be hit by the new showroom tax this year.

Paul Watters, head of public affairs at the AA, warned that the new
tax could be the thin end of the wedge

He said: “The problem is that with any new tax, once it is introduced
we have crossed a threshold. It’s open then for any Chancellor to
increase it. Okay, those paying £950 a year are going to be driving a
pretty special breed of car. But they will be already be paying a far
higher rate of tax through fuel duty, because these cars consume more
petrol.”

As well as the showroom tax, taxes on cars already on the road will
also be increased to penalise those with the highest emissions. Low-
emission vehicles will be cheaper to tax.

Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
suggest that 6.6 million car owners will see the tax on their existing
cars increase by well above the rate of inflation.

Any car registered since 2001 that falls into Band I or above will
incur higher tax this year.

The Band I tax rate will rise from £175 to £200, a jump of 14 per
cent.

Cars falling into that band include the Land Rover Freelander 2.2
diesel, the Toyota Avensis Estate 2.2 and Vauxhall Astra CC.

Band J cars, which include the Nissan Qashqai 2.0 diesel, the Honda CR-
V 2.0 petrol and the Vauxhall Corsa 1.6, will incur tax of £235, up
from £200.

Paul Everitt of the SMMT said that, with the economy still fragile,
ministers should have delayed the tax rise.

He said: “We are disappointed that government didn’t take the
opportunity in last week’s Budget to defer the introduction of the
first year rate or the increase in standard VED rates.

“Environmental taxes need to be clear and consistent so that motorists
can be confident that they will reap the benefits from their
decision.”

The Taxpayers’ Alliance said duty rises were “naked money-grabbing
dressed up as green taxes.”

Mark Wallace of the alliance said: “After years of painful tax rises,
it beggars belief that the Government are punishing drivers again.

“Most people who will be hit by these tax rises are not self-indulgent
leisure motorists – they need their cars to get to work and to carry
their families.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7542531/Road-tax-doubles-on-many-cars.html


McK.
From: Derek C on
On 1 Apr, 02:08, McKevvy <vicko_zoo...(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
> Road tax on many new cars bought from today will double, hitting £950
> for the largest vehicles.
>
> The owners of more than six million cars already on the road also face
> road tax rises more than double the rate of inflation.
>
> Under a new Government “green tax” regime, Vehicle Excise Duty rates
> have been changed to reflect the emissions from car engines.
>
> A total of 13 emission 'bands’ have been introduced, with the owners
> of the highest polluting vehicles paying the most in road tax - and
> significantly more than before the changes.
>
> An additional one-off 'showroom tax’ will also apply to anyone who
> wants to buy a new car in one of the most polluting bands. Cars in
> nine of the 13 bands will incur this tax.
>
> The increases were announced in 2008 but only take force today.
> Motoring groups said the taxes are an unfair penalty on drivers.
>
> Based on last year’s sales figures, around 1.4 million cars that incur
> a showroom tax will be sold in 2010/11.
>
> Under the scheme, new cars with the largest emissions will incur a
> levy of £950 in their first year when the showroom tax and higher road
> tax bills are combined.
>
> That is more than twice the rate levied on the biggest emitters
> already on the road.
>
> Smaller cars with low emissions will face no tax in their first year.
>
> The Treasury said the new tax regime would “send a stronger signal to
> the buyer about the environmental implications of their car purchase”.
>
> But critics said the measures are simply another revenue-raising
> measure imposed on motorists already hurt by high fuel prices.
>
> The top rate of showroom tax is targeted at high-emitting “supercars”..
>
> Every new car built by Aston Martin, Bentley and Rolls-Royce will face
> a £950 tax, as will most new Jaguars. So will some Range Rovers and
> the Vauxhall Insignia 2.8.
>
> At the other end of the scale, new cars with low emissions, including
> the Audi A3 1.6 TDI and the BMW 316d will pay no road tax in the first
> year.
>
> According the AA, around 1.44 million cars last year were sold which
> would be hit by the new showroom tax this year.
>
> Paul Watters, head of public affairs at the AA, warned that the new
> tax could be the thin end of the wedge
>
> He said: “The problem is that with any new tax, once it is introduced
> we have crossed a threshold. It’s open then for any Chancellor to
> increase it. Okay, those paying £950 a year are going to be driving a
> pretty special breed of car. But they will be already be paying a far
> higher rate of tax through fuel duty, because these cars consume more
> petrol.”
>
> As well as the showroom tax, taxes on cars already on the road will
> also be increased to penalise those with the highest emissions. Low-
> emission vehicles will be cheaper to tax.
>
> Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)
> suggest that 6.6 million car owners will see the tax on their existing
> cars increase by well above the rate of inflation.
>
> Any car registered since 2001 that falls into Band I or above will
> incur higher tax this year.
>
> The Band I tax rate will rise from £175 to £200, a jump of 14 per
> cent.
>
> Cars falling into that band include the Land Rover Freelander 2.2
> diesel, the Toyota Avensis Estate 2.2 and Vauxhall Astra CC.
>
> Band J cars, which include the Nissan Qashqai 2.0 diesel, the Honda CR-
> V 2.0 petrol and the Vauxhall Corsa 1.6, will incur tax of £235, up
> from £200.
>
> Paul Everitt of the SMMT said that, with the economy still fragile,
> ministers should have delayed the tax rise.
>
> He said: “We are disappointed that government didn’t take the
> opportunity in last week’s Budget to defer the introduction of the
> first year rate or the increase in standard VED rates.
>
> “Environmental taxes need to be clear and consistent so that motorists
> can be confident that they will reap the benefits from their
> decision.”
>
> The Taxpayers’ Alliance said duty rises were “naked money-grabbing
> dressed up as green taxes.”
>
> Mark Wallace of the alliance said: “After years of painful tax rises,
> it beggars belief that the Government are punishing drivers again.
>
> “Most people who will be hit by these tax rises are not self-indulgent
> leisure motorists – they need their cars to get to work and to carry
> their families.”
>
> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7542531/Road-tax-doubles-on-...
>
> McK.

Typical bit of class spite from the Labour Party that mainly affects
middle class folk living in the countryside. Unfortunately the Labour
Party still seem to live in the early part of the 20th Century, when
only 'toffs' owned cars. If you are a car owner, especially a big one,
don't vote for the b*st*ards.

Derek C
From: Adrian on
Derek C <del.copeland(a)tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

> Typical bit of class spite from the Labour Party that mainly affects
> middle class folk living in the countryside.

Are you trying to play the "Big 4x4s are necessary" line? Don't be
ridiculous.

As I've said before, my mother lives out in the sticks in the middle of
the Peak District - and drives a 207. She's retired now, but used to
commute every day over the back lanes and tops towards Manchester and,
later, Liverpool. She did that in nothing more "off-road" than an Astra,
a Saab 900, a Rover 800, a Xantia. I seem to recall her getting stuck
once. When the snow-plough got stuck in front of her.

As far as I can see, the cheapest Band M new cars are around £28/30k list
high-performance versions.
From: Derek C on
On 1 Apr, 07:56, Adrian <toomany2...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Derek C <del.copel...(a)tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like
> they were saying:
>
> > Typical bit of class spite from the Labour Party that mainly affects
> > middle class folk living in the countryside.
>
> Are you trying to play the "Big 4x4s are necessary" line? Don't be
> ridiculous.
>
> As I've said before, my mother lives out in the sticks in the middle of
> the Peak District - and drives a 207. She's retired now, but used to
> commute every day over the back lanes and tops towards Manchester and,
> later, Liverpool. She did that in nothing more "off-road" than an Astra,
> a Saab 900, a Rover 800, a Xantia. I seem to recall her getting stuck
> once. When the snow-plough got stuck in front of her.
>
> As far as I can see, the cheapest Band M new cars are around £28/30k list
> high-performance versions.

Nearly all British made cars such as Rolls Royces, Range Rovers, Aston
Martins will be affected by this new tax. Not all 4x4s. I think it's
about time we had a Government scrappage scheme!

Derek C
From: Adrian on
Derek C <del.copeland(a)tiscali.co.uk> gurgled happily, sounding much like
they were saying:

>> > Typical bit of class spite from the Labour Party that mainly affects
>> > middle class folk living in the countryside.

>> Are you trying to play the "Big 4x4s are necessary" line? Don't be
>> ridiculous.
>>
>> As I've said before, my mother lives out in the sticks in the middle of
>> the Peak District - and drives a 207. She's retired now, but used to
>> commute every day over the back lanes and tops towards Manchester and,
>> later, Liverpool. She did that in nothing more "off-road" than an
>> Astra, a Saab 900, a Rover 800, a Xantia. I seem to recall her getting
>> stuck once. When the snow-plough got stuck in front of her.
>>
>> As far as I can see, the cheapest Band M new cars are around £28/30k
>> list high-performance versions.

> Nearly all British made cars such as Rolls Royces, Range Rovers, Aston
> Martins will be affected by this new tax.

How about British made cars such as Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans? They're the
VAST majority of British made cars, y'know, both numerically and by value
- both absolute value and marginal value to the UK economy. Don't say
"But they're foreign-owned", since the three brands you mentioned are all
foreign-owned, too.

The vast majority of both Land-Rover's and Jaguar's output are way below
Band M. Jag XFs, XJs, Range-Rover Sports, Disco 4s - all are available a
long way below Band M. The only reason the "full-fat" Range Rover isn't
is because they've recently dropped the v6 diesel - mainstay of the
current L322 range for most of it's life. Strange, since the 3.0 is
considerably cleaner than the old 2.7, as well as stronger.

Oh, and I think you might be on a loser with trying to drum up sympathy
for the buyers of new Rolls-Royces, Bentleys or Aston-Martins by claiming
that an extra £500 of tax will be a big hardship on the poor dears.