Cyclist dont pay car tax! neither do car drivers....

[Paulus]

Electric vehicles, and others with very low emissions have paid no VED for years. Horse and carts pay none, VED could stand for vehicle emission Tax.

 

[ufkacbln]

I like the road tax argument.

Had a guy at work who argued this
Simply clarified his argument that as he paid then he had more rights which he confirmed

Then point out that I pay more road tax on my car than he does as it is in a higher VED band, and ask if my higher payments means I have more rights than him and he should be getting out of MY way

Apparently it doesn't work like that...........

 

[Tyke]

It stopped paying for roads may years ago before most of today`s drivers lives started so the argument that they can try to kill someone because they don`t pay tax is not very good but what I think most people forget is that many of us cyclists do in fact pay it for our car and then choose to use the bike.

We don`t all ride like ninjas at night, jump lights pavement hop ect some of us try to be good but a small percentage get the rest a bad name.

The other regular argument is that we should be forced to pay third party insurance for the bike. I fully agree with this but think most motorists would be shocked to find that many of us already do.

 

[GilesM]

I like the road tax argument.

Had a guy at work who argued this
Simply clarified his argument that as he paid then he had more rights which he confirmed

Then point out that I pay more road tax on my car than he does as it is in a higher VED band, and ask if my higher payments means I have more rights than him and he should be getting out of MY way

Apparently it doesn't work like that...........

I agree, I love this argument, I always enjoying pointing out to some red faced irate driver, "I have three cars, I pay lots of road tax, I assume you'll be getting out of my way now."

 

[User269]

As a driver I have been under the impression for donkeys years that my car tax paid for the roads.

The roads are funded from council tax. Motorways and some trunk roads are funded from general taxation, of which VED (or Car Tax) represents a tiny amount.

Regardless of who pays what, the public highways are for all of us to use, whether horse riding, cycling, walking or driving a vehicle, amongst other things.

It's important to bust the road tax myth, as it contributes to aggression, harassment, and bullying from some vehicle drivers towards other road users.

 

[dodgy]

Quite a few comments have now been published on the BBC story. There's a fair few negative ones, people still not grasping that there are some cars that pay zero VED. They're just seeing them and us (all bicycles and all cars).

 

[Arch]

It was Winston Churchill who abolished the term 'Road Tax' in 1935 or 6 I think. He apparently said that he felt the term would give those paying it some mistaken idea that it entitled them to some greater right to be on the road.

 

[TVC]

It was Winston Churchill who abolished the term 'Road Tax' in 1935 or 6 I think. He apparently said that he felt the term would give those paying it some mistaken idea that it entitled them to some greater right to be on the road.

Unfortunately DVLA are not helping. I got my reminder to renew my Tax Disc' this week

 

[Arch]

I think calling it a tax disc is fair enough. The term 'car tax' would be fine. It's the road bit that makes people think they own the road once they have a disc.

 

[Matthew_T]

I often have this debate with my dad. I ask him where on the disc it says "Road tax" and then he finally gives a big sigh and says "Fine, Vehicle Excise Duty". And then gets angry at me, even though he is the one who was in the wrong.
My dad is very stubborn when it comes to things like that.

The term road tax really annoys me though. If I can do my bit on my own to educate the few people closest to me, then I might be able to see a difference.

 

[fossyant]

Road tax or VED, you don't pay it on a bike due to low emissions. Just don't eat sprouts.