Car Tax Rules
A new bill to factor into your expenses this year are the new car tax rules - if you’re buying a car first registered after 2001 then the car tax you pay is set to change, due next year.
If you buy a very fuel efficient car, you could pay no car tax, but a gas guzzler could cost you £455 a year.
A BBC information page gives you the typical tax for the leading cars being sold today, find it here.
You may need to bear this in mind if your selling a car from after 2001 also, since the car may have been instantly devalued, or you may be lucky to find it has increased in value, since buyers will factor in they will pay no car tax on a highly economical motorcar.
There has been some backlash from the press that this tax will affect the poorest more, and Gorden Brown also faces backbench rebellion due to it acting retrospectively, hitting drivers who had no knowledge of the tax when they bought their car.
Like many government initiatives at the moment, the measure seems to have good intentions (cutting CO2 levels) but hitting the wrong type of people in the pocket, which after all is the majority’s main concern.
Judging by the pressure on Gorden Brown recently, this measure could be taken down, but expect some kind of initiative targeting green cars soon.
Its been a real noticeable change in policy in the UK where environmental concerns take front stage - as a child in the 80s I remember such initiatives would have been part of the “loony left”.
Tags: cartax, budget tips, car
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