George Osborne ressurects Road Tax, prepare for accusations of freeloading

[w00hoo_kent]

Only one thing will happen if you try to argue with fools - they'll drag you down to their level.

Arguing with fools is like playing chess with a pigeon. They'll knock over the pieces, shoot all over the board and still strut around like they've won.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

Only one thing will happen if you try to argue with fools - they'll drag you down to their level.

...and beat you with experience.

 

[Gasman]

Time to get these out.

Didn't somebody do one that said "I Don't Pay Road Tax"? If there isn't then I'll buy this...

and have it printed myself!!

 

[captain nemo1701]

1. Everyone who isn't a stuck up rs hole calls it road tax
2. You seem to have missed the last thirty years of cyclists being accused by drivers

I've been following the excellent site www. ipayroadtax.com. Silly idea by the tories to reinvent something that Churchill got rid of.

 

[Hip Priest]

Well, whatever it's called, we've never had to pay it, and it's unlikely we ever will, so any driver who wants to have a go at me about it can take it up with the relevant authorities, because I certainly couldn't care less.

 

[Tin Pot]

The math is interesting. If you buy a new car today here is how 20 years of ownership stacks up for 2 groups:

Lowish emission average family car - Before £570, After £2,820 - £2,220 worse off
High emission fuel guzzling sports car - Before £4,915, After £3,460 - £1,455 better off

I'm shocked...

Can I ask where those calculations are from?

Looks good for me

 

[Markymark]

Isn't there also a price to be paid on purchase too for high value cars?

 

[youngoldbloke]

The math is interesting. If you buy a new car today here is how 20 years of ownership stacks up for 2 groups:

Lowish emission average family car - Before £570, After £2,820 - £2,220 worse off
High emission fuel guzzling sports car - Before £4,915, After £3,460 - £1,455 better off

I'm shocked...

Registered after 31 March 2017: High emissions: £2000 1st year, then £140 per year for 19 years = £2660. Total £4660 (plus £310 per year for first 5 years if purchase price over £40000 = £1550), so potentially £6210?

 

[downfader]

The righteous motorist* had better not hope for massive inspection into the externalities of their motoring cost to society, or they might end up paying more..

*You know the type, the REALLY vociferous idiot who thinks they're hard done by, not the average motorist

 

[Lonestar]

I didn't think that "road tax" fully paid for the roads maintenance and building anyway.

 

[Wafer]

If he doesn't give any of this future 'road fund' to local authorities it won't have anything to do with road maintenance. I suspect he will keep the 'road fund' money to spend on new road building projects instead so will have nothing to do with filling potholes etc...

 

[400bhp]

I fail to see how this has any bearing on cyclists on the road. It will make FA difference.

 

[Gasman]

I didn't think that "road tax" fully paid for the roads maintenance and building anyway.

It didn't, it was introduced to pay for the ADDITIONAL road maintenance costs due to wear and tear from motor vehicles. As motor vehicles became more common and important to the economy it made sense to shift all road building and maintenance costs to general taxation. The move was also intended to silence the claims to ownership or rights to exclusive use of roads by those paying road tax (!)

 

[benb]

They should ditch it completely and just increase fuel duty to recover the difference.
-Keeps the incentive towards low emissions vehicles, as they tend to be the most fuel efficient
-Cuts out a ton of red tape and bureaucracy
-Means people who drive more pay more
-Gets rid of the stupid "You don't pay road tax" argument

 

[User269]

Osborne's proposals aim to 'ringfence' some vehicle tax revenue, to ensure it is spent specifically on roads. No harm in that.
The roads concerned will be motorways and trunk roads.
So no great change from the current situation; roads are funded from council tax, apart from motorways and some trunk roads.
The other thing that won't change is that car adverts, and vehicle reviews in mags and papers, will continue to make reference to something called 'road tax'.