Politics · United Kingdom · 21 hrs ago
Draft plan would let police inspect cars over suspected mileage tax fraud
The UK government plans to introduce a mileage-based road tax for electric and hybrid cars from April 2028.
The charge would be 3p per mile for fully electric cars and 1.5p for hybrids, on top of existing road tax.
Drivers would submit their odometer readings each year, and officials would compare them with readings recorded at annual vehicle tests.
Under draft laws, police and transport officials could enter premises where a vehicle is registered, inspect or test it, and keep it for as long as needed for those checks.
Drivers could also be required to move a vehicle for inspection, and refusing could become a criminal offence.
Critics say mistakes in mileage readings could lead to innocent motorists being investigated and argue the powers are too broad.
The government plans to include the draft laws in a Finance Bill, with the measures expected as part of the Budget later this month.
Draft laws would allow police and transport officials to inspect and detain vehicles when they suspect drivers have understated mileage to avoid a proposed mileage tax.
The powers would apply to a planned tax on hybrid and electric cars, due to begin in April 2028.
Drivers would submit annual odometer readings, which would be checked against readings recorded at annual MOT tests.
Critics say the proposed powers could intrude on people’s homes and lead to action against drivers who made honest mistakes.
- Who
- Police officers and transport officials would enforce the proposed rules; hybrid and electric car owners would be subject to the tax.
- What
- Draft laws would let officials inspect, test and detain vehicles over suspected mileage fraud.
- When
- The tax is planned to start in April 2028. The draft laws are expected to be included in an upcoming Finance Bill.
- Where
- At premises where a vehicle is registered, and at a place where an inspection or test can be carried out.
- Why
- To check whether drivers have entered lower mileage readings to avoid paying the proposed tax.
Ministers and enforcement authorities
Critics and civil liberties campaigners
Purpose
Ministers and enforcement authorities
The proposed checks would compare annual driver-submitted mileage readings with MOT readings to address suspected odometer fraud.
Critics and civil liberties campaigners
The powers could target drivers who made honest mistakes and amount to an excessive state intrusion.
Scope of powers
Ministers and enforcement authorities
Police and transport officials would be able to enter premises, inspect and test vehicles, and detain or move them for inspection.
Critics and civil liberties campaigners
Critics say the powers are sweeping and could mean officers coming to motorists’ homes.
Labour's electric car tax comes with a shocking little extra – the right for inspectors to turn up at your home and poke around your car.
This is Big Brother with a clipboard and a set of car keys.
The proposed pay-per-mile tax is due to begin for hybrid and electric car owners.
Drivers would submit their odometer readings so their mileage-tax bills could be calculated.
Vehicle mileage readings would be recorded and cross-checked against drivers’ submissions.
Ministers plan to include the draft enforcement laws in the bill, according to a House of Commons Library report.
- Tax start
- April 2028
- Hybrid rate
- 1.5p per mile
- Fully electric car rate
- 3p per mile
- Mileage checks
- Annual driver readings cross-referenced with readings from annual MOT tests
- Proposed enforcement
- Officials could inspect, test and detain vehicles at premises where they are registered
Sources
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