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UK looking to triple taxes on high-polluting cars

UK looking to triple taxes on high-polluting cars

Viknesh Vijayenthiran March 13th, 2008 Viknesh Vijayenthiran By Viknesh Vijayenthiran Author March 13th, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 It’s bad enough London’s congestion charge is set to rise later this year for high CO2-emitting vehicles, but now the country’s annual road tax on these vehicles is likely to be increased as well. The country’s finance minister Alistair Darling has promised that “higher polluting” cars will be taxed more than regular cars as part of widespread reforms to the vehicle taxation system. Darling’s plan would see taxes increase on the heavy-polluters next year and then again in 2010. If approved, the scheme would see owners of cars emitting more than 255g of CO2/km pay £425 ($865) per year to register their vehicle in 2009 and up to £950 ($1,934) per year in 2010 onwards. Currently, vehicles that emit more than 225g/km pay the maximum tax of £300 ($610) a year, reports Automotive News. At the other end of the scale, cars that emit less than 130g of CO2/km would be exempt from the annual road tax. As harsh as the new taxes seem, the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders is in favor of the scheme. Other European countries taxation systems for heavy polluters are no better. In France, the maximum tax on cars that emit more than 250g of CO2/km is €2,600 ($4,052) and in the Netherlands the biggest polluters are charged up to €1,600 ($2,494).
UK looking to triple taxes on high-polluting cars

UK looking to triple taxes on high-polluting cars

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It’s bad enough London’s congestion charge is set to rise later this year for high CO2-emitting vehicles, but now the country’s annual road tax on these vehicles is likely to be increased as well. The country’s finance minister Alistair Darling has promised that “higher polluting” cars will be taxed more than regular cars as part of widespread reforms to the vehicle taxation system. Darling’s plan would see taxes increase on the heavy-polluters next year and then again in 2010.

If approved, the scheme would see owners of cars emitting more than 255g of CO2/km pay £425 ($865) per year to register their vehicle in 2009 and up to £950 ($1,934) per year in 2010 onwards. Currently, vehicles that emit more than 225g/km pay the maximum tax of £300 ($610) a year, reports Automotive News.

At the other end of the scale, cars that emit less than 130g of CO2/km would be exempt from the annual road tax. As harsh as the new taxes seem, the UK's Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders is in favor of the scheme.

Other European countries taxation systems for heavy polluters are no better. In France, the maximum tax on cars that emit more than 250g of CO2/km is €2,600 ($4,052) and in the Netherlands the biggest polluters are charged up to €1,600 ($2,494).

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Comments (7 total)

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  1. By GD #1, Posted: 3/13/2008

    With such draconian measures in place, it's little wonder that people' often harbour bitterness of skepticism towards environmental issues...

  2. By HECTOR #2, Posted: 3/13/2008

    The company I work for has a strong presence in England. I'll be sure never to accept a transfer there...

  3. By germandude #3, Posted: 3/13/2008

    The increasing environmntal awareness is being abused to take more money from the tax-payers, not to reduce CO²-emissions. It's a real joke.

  4. By David #4, Posted: 3/13/2008

    I see a contradiction in using something "per km" as a measure to put a "per year" tax on. One has to admit that driving twice the distance in a car that puts out half the CO2 is equally bad.

  5. By Gus #5, Posted: 3/13/2008

    I'm sure London thinks it's the model of modern environmentalism.
    Unfortunately, the animosity will more than make up for any environmental gains, which will be so small in and of themsleves as to equal two cows fart's worth...

  6. By Raptor #6, Posted: 3/13/2008

    This is just great. And it's getting better every day. Soon you'le be a terrorist threat if you will drive anything with more than 100 g/km CO2 and they will put you in Guantanamo or some other shitty place. If greenpeace doesn't kill you first.

  7. By Alister #7, Posted: 3/13/2008

    I dont know how people can vote for a party that thinks like this!!!!! The high school drop out who can only afford a Punto gets a free ride mean while the guy who gave life the extra effort and probably owns a company that provides employment (builds a tax base in other words) has to pay?

    I can only guess you'll be seeing more high end vehicles with plates from Andora, Monaco, Switzerland and the like...

    As an adult I fully understand why my parents moved the family out of England.

    Signed,

    The son of a man who gave life the extra push.

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