Politics · United Kingdom · 4 hrs ago
Heavier cars could face a new tax at the UK Budget
Chancellor John Healey could face calls to tax heavier cars in the UK Budget, though the government has not announced a new charge.
Clean-energy group Transport & Environment has urged the Treasury to introduce a levy on large vehicles.
The group proposed a one-off charge of £10 per kilogram for new petrol cars over 1,600kg and electric cars over 2,000kg.
Under its proposal, a petrol Ford Kuga would cost £1,120 more.
The group says larger SUVs increase danger, road damage and emissions, while critics warn a tax could add to motorists’ costs and discourage buyers of heavier electric cars.
The Treasury has been lobbied but has not confirmed any plans and said it would not comment on speculation.
The Conservatives say Chancellor John Healey may impose a new levy on heavier vehicles at the UK Budget.
The proposal could add more than £1,000 to the price of some popular cars.
Clean energy group Transport & Environment has urged the government to introduce a charge on larger vehicles.
The group argues that SUVs pose greater danger to other drivers, damage roads and produce higher emissions.
Critics warn the levy could add to motorists’ costs and discourage buyers of heavier electric cars.
- Who
- Chancellor John Healey may impose the levy, while Transport & Environment has called for one.
- What
- A proposed levy on heavier vehicles could be added as a one-off supplement to Vehicle Excise Duty when a new car is purchased.
- When
- It may be introduced at the UK Budget. The date of the Budget is not stated.
- Where
- The United Kingdom.
- Why
- Transport & Environment says larger vehicles pose greater danger to other drivers, damage roads and produce higher emissions.
The Conservatives
Transport & Environment
Purpose of the levy
The Conservatives
The Conservatives warn that the levy would be another tax on drivers and could burden families.
Transport & Environment
The group says larger vehicles should pay a levy because they pose greater danger to other drivers, damage roads and produce higher emissions.
Effect on drivers
The Conservatives
The Conservatives say the tax could add to motorists’ costs.
Transport & Environment
The group says the levy would make oversized SUVs pay their fair share.
Transport & Environment called for a charge on new petrol cars weighing more than 1,600kg and electric models weighing more than 2,000kg.
Conservative transport spokesman Richard Holden criticised the possible levy in comments to the Daily Mail.
The Daily Mail published its report on the possible levy.
- Petrol-car threshold
- More than 1,600kg
- Electric-car threshold
- More than 2,000kg
- Proposed charge
- £10 per kilogram
- Example vehicle
- The charge would add £1,120 to the price of a petrol Ford Kuga.
- Payment method
- One-off supplement to Vehicle Excise Duty when a new car is purchased.
What people are saying
It seems like Labour is preparing to hit drivers with yet another tax at the Budget by measuring the width of people's wing mirrors and sending them a bill for the size.
make oversized SUVs pay their fair share