Mileage Charges.

[Nigel Brook]

In view of the governments proposed charges for road useage do I presume that tax exempt vehicles will become a thing of the past? Mind you, by the time they get their act together I'll be too old to let it bother me.

 

[abas]

Nigel

No real concrete plans as yet so hard to tell.

Most likely that the govt will 'reduce' rather than scrap road tax altogether, as they want to ensure you keep up your insurance and MOT to get it ( and of course they want the money off you even if you don't use your car) so maybe there will still be an advantage to have tax exempt cars.

Off topic - who knows what plans govt might have for classic cars. I see the spectre of introducing smog tests for older cars ( like in The US) to try and get them off the road under the environmental banner. So save any smog reducing gear you have ripped off your car to make the engine bay look nice and clean - you might need to put it back someday.

just my thoughts



Andrew

 

[Rob Gaskin]

I think taxing on fuel has got to be the best way, so simple and seems to be logical to me. Big cars, fast drivers, city users, high users all pay more which is fair! Plus no need for SORN.

If they bring in mileage charge I'll disconnect the speedo or alter the speedo gearing.

 

[Tony 260Z]

I heard that it was all to be computerised with all new cars being fitted with GPS so they could be spied on. I assume they were thinking of retro-fitting on everything else. If I were a paranoid conspiracy nut I'd think it was 1984 and big brother was watching us all in the name of "national security"...

 

[Mr.F]

Government "think tank" ideas from recent news reports:

No cars older than 15 years to be allowed on our roads.
Certain cars will be designated "classics" and afforded limited road time on pre-planned and authorised journeys (book in advance with the relevant local authorities, fill in forms in multiplicate for each local authority involved, pay huge fees to all...).
Taxation from "cradle to grave", i.e. no tax exemption while your restoration or long term repair is off the road, even if it consists of a bare shell and ten boxes of bits. SORN a thing of the past.
GPS sensors to be fitted to all vehicles - to tax mileage, of course, not to see how fast you made progress from A to B (heaven forbid). If the proposed identity card is now going to cost you £90, who do you think will be paying for retro-fitting? And at what outrageous cost?

Anyone ready for rioting in the streets yet? And Tony Blair thought that the hunting lobby were violent...

 

[Tony 260Z]

Problem is, being a bunch of polite "yes sir, no sir" brits, we'll go along with it because we don't want to make a fuss...

 

[zedhead260]

I'd think it was 1984 and big brother was watching us

But now it''s 2005 and everyone's watching Big Brother