Car tax disc to be axed after 93 years

[Markymark]

I think this is a good reason to keep it as it is, the more it goes up the more low mileage car owners may think it's time to give up their motor and join car clubs etc... Fewer cars in existence!

I think most people see owning a car as a necessity and a right. I doubt many would stop buying a car due to VED. If it was scrapped and replaced with higher tax on petrol, I think there would still be as many cars but people would be more cautious when using it thus reducing miles driven.

If a car trip to the out of town shops costs £5 or £10 more some people would maybe think twice and walk to the local shops instead.

 

[Markymark]

But that's not monetary.

The govt needs to raise a certain amount of revenue. If that's not coming from VED it will come from somewhere else.

Wouldn't fewer cars on the road cost less money with the maintenance and pollution costs? Maybe not equal but someway towards it?

 

[zimzum42]

I think most people see owning a car as a necessity and a right. I doubt many would stop buying a car due to VED. If it was scrapped and replaced with higher tax on petrol, I think there would still be as many cars but people would be more cautious when using it thus reducing miles driven.

If a car trip to the out of town shops costs £5 or £10 more some people would maybe think twice and walk to the local shops instead.

Fair point, and I can't disagree, but the way I see it someone who only does 1000 miles a year is wasting the car and cluttering up the streets. I would rather fewer cars being properly used and empty roads without old rusters that go nowhere clogging the place up

 

[Archie_tect]

The tax disc to show motorists have paid vehicle excise duty is to be replaced with an electronic system, Chancellor George Osborne is to announce in his Autumn Statement.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25223631

I notice they manage to avoid calling it "road tax". In fact, there's a snippet from Hansard when vehicle tax was introduced in 1888 which shows how the principle behind the tax:

Chancellor George Goschen: .....But I have not yet exhausted the subject. We propose, also, to put a very small Wheel Tax upon every vehicle.

Aw Shad, why did you have to bring up 'wheel tax'.... can anyone hear floodgates opening.?

 

[400bhp]

You've widened it to include maintenence which is in part correct.

There is no direct pollution cost to the govt? That's a whole new discussion by the way.

 

[Markymark]

No direct costs but less miles (yes miles can be less not fewer!) will ultimately cut pollution, ease up the roads for industries that need it and perhaps make us all fitter which will save the government £ over time.

 

[robjh]

Absolutely correct. But, it will stop tax dodgers (apart form those dedicated enough to convert to making their own petrol from chipfat!) and charge those that use use it the most to pay the most. I am sure analysts can look at yearly petrol consumption and make it work.

Putting it on fuel seems like the blindingly obvious conclusion, but fuel duty is a highly politically sensitive subject, and even the tinyest rise will get the motor lobby and their allies in the disreputable press screaming blue murder, and the government - of whatever stripe - will be tempted to give in to them, as has happened before. VED gets far less attention, so things being as they are it may be best left untouched.

If there's a drop in car useage, then the drop in petrol tax would be offset by the savings of less car emissions.

Wonderful as that would be, it takes a much bigger price hike to get people thinking twice about driving than the one that would be likely to result from a redistribution of VED income.

 

[numbnuts]

Fair point, and I can't disagree, but the way I see it someone who only does 1000 miles a year is wasting the car and cluttering up the streets. I would rather fewer cars being properly used and empty roads without old rusters that go nowhere clogging the place up

I only do 1000 miles per year as I use my bike, when I do use the car is for my monthly shop, fishing and kayaking. This year I have only used my car 65 times !!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I don't think I could manage if it got stuck into fuel as it would be a massive increase for me at over 16000 miles per year commuting alone, unfortunately I work in a very small industry with a specialised skillset that means that it is near impossible to find more local work at the a comparable rate of pay, the next option would be to pay an extra £150 per month in rent, and move into a city centre, 1 bedroom apartment rather than an end terraced with gardens, drive and a garage

 

[Markymark]

Why not live on the outskirts of a city and cycle commute in?

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Unfortunately, Greater Manchester is either expensive, or pretty damn rough, I'm in Warrington currently, so is only 25 minutes by motorbike or 40 in a car, but even then, to park a car at work is £18 per day, so that only goes when ice is on the road

 

[sazzaa]

Fair point, and I can't disagree, but the way I see it someone who only does 1000 miles a year is wasting the car and cluttering up the streets. I would rather fewer cars being properly used and empty roads without old rusters that go nowhere clogging the place up

I think the type of person who only does 1,000 miles a year probably really needs the car to do those type of things. For me it's things like shopping, getting to work on days like today, or dropping off/picking up the kid from anywhere. There are loads of things which aren't practical on a bike or even a bus.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I think the type of person who only does 1,000 miles a year probably really needs the car to do those type of things. For me it's things like shopping, getting to work on days like today, or dropping off/picking up the kid from anywhere. There are loads of things which aren't practical on a bike or even a bus.

I have to agree with this, the bicycle is still mainly for fun rather than transport, commuting and solo travel by motorcycle, and if I need to pick something large up, shopping, or go out with the mrs (who will not getting on a bike), we use the car.

 

[wait4me]

Judging by the majority of comments the Op should have titled this "Car Haters Click Here"

 

[XRHYSX]

I think the type of person who only does 1,000 miles a year probably really needs the car to do those type of things. For me it's things like shopping, getting to work on days like today, or dropping off/picking up the kid from anywhere. There are loads of things which aren't practical on a bike or even a bus.

this might help