Angry drivers slam car tax changes as an ‘attack on poor people’

Upcoming car tax changes have been labelled an 'attack on the poor' and 'almost bullying' by annoyed drivers. Many petrol and diesel car owners will have to pay more to keep their vehicles on the road from April 1 this year.

HM Revenue and Customers (HMRC) confirmed Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) fees would increase in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation. Owners of older cars will be affected by the VED rise and according to finance experts at Pete Barden ^[1], costs will likely rise by around six percent across the board.

When the Express ^[2] announced the move, several readers responded with anger, calling the change a 'dirty trick' and arguing that the tax rise penalised the poor by targeting motorists with less expensive cars.

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People with vehicles registered before March 1, 2001 are in the firing line with two different price rises in the pipeline which depend on the type of vehicle owned. Models with an engine capacity of over 1,549cc should pay £345 annually compared to £325 a year ago.

At the same time, those with an engine below 1,549cc are expected to pay £10 more with costs jumping from £200 to £210. Electric cars are still exempt from paying VED rates in 2024, but there will be charges from next year.

However, the costs for zero-emissions vehicles are expected to be minimal from 2025. VED rates are usually calculated based on a car’s overall emissions.

Responding to the changes, one unhappy Express reader, @Islands, commented: “There really is no common sense in government is there? Old cars are owned by people who cannot afford posh new ones, they don't have them because they want to pollute, they have them because they are all they can afford. This is nothing but an attack on the poor by an heartless government!”

A second motorist, @Roger08 said: “I drive a 24-year-old car that I've owned and maintained for 22 years. I drive less than 1,000 miles a year. “Now tell me who has caused more damage to the environment. Me or someone who has owned 12 cars in the time I've owned one and drives as much in one year as I have in 12. And who do they choose to hammer.”

And @Far Far Away wrote: “So, haven't they worked it out yet? Those that can least afford a new car are penalised. Those that change every two years are not. So those that use up resources and emit COs the most get less tax than those that keep it running as long as possible.”

@darlor replied: “What will Government tax when millions can't afford or give up their car, it's coming and not too far away.” And @pablo53 said: “This is simply the government putting more pressure on to get motorists to either buy electric rubbish or just empty the roads of motorists, it's a dirty diabolical trick.”

@fransam11 said: “The sneaky, almost bullying, tactics to force us into EV continues. No surprise. But very short-sighted.” And @katsura74 wrote: “All the money we pay for road tax, plus the two taxes on fuel, when will they start repairing our roads.”

References

^{^} Pete Barden (www.petebarden.co.uk)
^{^} Express (www.express.co.uk)
^{^} Amazon Prime members threaten to cancel subscriptions after change announced (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
^{^} Try BirminghamLive Premium for just £12 for 12 months! (www.birminghammail.co.uk)