Road Tax/Budget

[roachcoach]

Alright

Does anyone know if there have been any whispers of this changing (significantly) this budget? I recall some years back they tabled the idea of radically hiking at the higher end of the spectrum it but then shelved it, it's never reappeared that I know of.

I know the budget is in like two weeks but I'm shopping around for a car and (major) tax changes might change things for me.

For perspective, I'm looking at the £245 band atm, so kind of low-end borderline on the "liable to be ruthlessly spanked on 'green grounds' at some stage" range.

[oolon]

I think with the petrol price at the moment they will not get away with a large increase in tax, as it would be seen as another hit on the motorist. Hence I do not believe they will do it. I would say if you buy before the budget make sure you get an appropriate discount just in case or just wait.

[roachcoach]

Food for thought, not actually sure I'll be able to buy before then anyway, liquidation of odds and sods takes time.

I was mainly asking as I don't want to spend time researching cars that might suddenly be a total non-option this time next month

[[GSV]Myocardial]

To be honest I'd be more worried about being able to afford petrol at all if the Middle East flares up any more. Fuel at £10+ per litre will be more of a problem

[roachcoach]

I have faith in the British public to go suitably mental if it gets much worse.

And I'm cynical enough to believe that if it does get much worse in there, all of a sudden "peacekeepers" will appear promptly - too much depends globally on oil.

I am, however, also cynical enough to think that the gvmnt could see a quick buck in a serious deficit by bending over the motorists again on "green" pretenses - which is why I asked

[McMav]

To be honest I'd be more worried about being able to afford petrol at all if the Middle East flares up any more. Fuel at £10+ per litre will be more of a problem

Fule gets to that price no-one will drive and country will be shafted.

[kalniel]

Alright

Does anyone know if there have been any whispers of this changing (significantly) this budget? I recall some years back they tabled the idea of radically hiking at the higher end of the spectrum it but then shelved it, it's never reappeared that I know of.

I know the budget is in like two weeks but I'm shopping around for a car and (major) tax changes might change things for me.

For perspective, I'm looking at the £245 band atm, so kind of low-end borderline on the "liable to be ruthlessly spanked on 'green grounds' at some stage" range.

They sort of did - there's a new first year tax rate to specifically target owners of new cars. These rates are more extreme than the usual annual rates, but I think they're already in place.

[[GSV]Myocardial]

Fule gets to that price no-one will drive and country will be shafted.

Just a bit, negative fuel duty and tax to subsidise haulage firms and farmers and the rest of us will be jumping on the old bike or walking. But only for as long as our rubber soles keep going as leather soled trainers aren't particularly common.

[roachcoach]

Aye, the first year tax is in place.

I googled it a bunch before asking, found some legacy templates which where U-turned on. Everything in the higher band was more expensive, e.g. what turned out to be £245 p.a today was hoped to be £310.

The higher rates were slated to be revisited in 2010. Presumably the economy meltdown made them take their eye off it, but now there's a hole in the budget you could get Jupiter through, it wouldn't surprise me if they did a quick hit on it now.

I found the old tables again, they are about in accordance with my memory (I had a 1.8 family vectra at the time and was suitably unimpressed at the retrospective slapping I stood to take).

NOTE THIS TABLE IS OLD, NO-ONE FREAK OUT!

• Band A (up to 100g/km CO2) - no fee
• Band B (101-110g/km CO2 - £20
• Band C (111-120g/km CO2 - £35
• Band D (121-130g/km CO2 - £95
• Band E (131-140g/km CO2) - £115
• Band F (141- 150g/km CO2) - £125
• Band G (151 to 160g/km CO2) - £155
• Band H (161 to 170g/km CO2) - £180
• Band I (171 to 180g/km CO2) - £210
• Band J (181 to 200g/km CO2) - £270
• Band K (201 to 225g/km CO2) - £310
• Band L (226 to 255g/km CO2) - £430
• Band M (Over 255g/km CO2) - £455

Those were the planned 2010-2011 rates back in 2008, but were altered.

I guess no-one has heard any rumblings - which is good. I haven't either, but I hadn't really looked. I guess we'll find out really soon though.

[DanceswithUnix]

Not heard of any changes, and I also looked into this when the wife got her 3.2L V6 Alfa GT for obvious reasons

My car is pre March 2001, so fixed rate £205. Her car is pre March 2006, so capped at £245. If new, her car would istr be £435/yr.

[format]

Fule gets to that price no-one will drive and country will be shafted.

Hey at least our air will be a lot cleaner and there will be far less deaths from traffic. Silver lining and all that