Reinstate The 25 Year Rolling Road Tax Exemption

[johnnydog]

A petition has been started recently to try to resurrect the 25 year rolling road tax exemption, instead of the current 40 year exemption. It has already attracted in excess of 11,000 signatures.
As we know, the majority of our cars are now tax exempt with only the ones manufactured in 1975, 1976 and 1977 still waiting. In case anyone queries about cars made in 1975, I understand they only become tax exempt from April 2016.
The other benefit which is worth noting is that if you are unsure of the date when your vehicle was manufactured, and it was registered between January 1st and 7th of any year, the DVLA have applied common sense in accepting it must have been made in the previous year, and the exemption will apply from the April in that year, so there is no need in this case to prove the date of manufacture!
I think the petition is worth signing, if only to ensure that future classics get the recognition they deserve.
It can signed on line at the following site -

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/119497

[Dave B]

John, the link doesn't seem to work (but that's ok, both of mine are tax exempt )

[Dave B]

Found it!
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/119497

[johnnydog]

Slip of the digit(s) - sorry! Original post now amended!

[Alan Chatterton]

Signed.


Alan Chatterton
Chairman
Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Register

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Mike Stevens]

Also signed!

Cheers,
Mike.

[Clifford Pope]

It's shortsighted. Pressing for concessions for classic cars just plays into the hands of the authorities who are looking for an excuse to restrict use of old cars for alleged environmental reasons.

It would be more sensible to campaign for the total abolition of road tax and it replacement by increased tax on fuel. That would benefit all small-mileage users, and carry much more environmental weight. The biggest users would pay the most.

[Alec]

Hello Cliff,

" The biggest users would pay the most."

Yes, business, which then adds to their cost and subsequently higher prices so we all pay in the end. There is too much duty on fuel as it is without adding any more.

Personally I feel that there is a limit to keep rolling on the 'classic' name into the 80's. The 50's to 70's was an era where there is a lot of distinction between various Marques, from the 80's on cars became less distinct and we also come into electronic engine management etc, which can make long term running more difficult if the modules fail and there are few spares? I just think it's a different era and I doubt if there will be the same nostalgia for 'modern' cars.

Alec

[Alan Chatterton]

The trouble with tax, what ever for, is it is unlikely to be fair across the board.

The current situation with the rolling (or lack of it!) historic status is that it seems unduly unfair that the cut off doesn't move, as it originally was planed to be.

The current vehicle excise duty (lets just call is road tax for ease for the moment shall we!), is that currently is it unfair as it is not based on use or damaged caused. Be that damage to the roads themselves or the environment.

Lets look at 4 cars that I know of to explain how wrong the current system is.

My Mercedes
My Triumph
My bosses BMW
My Neighbours Tesla S (What a beast!)

So, my Mercedes costs £120 a year to tax. Its a diesel, and does about 40,000 miles a year. Huge impact on the roads and the environment. But pays a very low rate.

My Triumph, V8 3 litre, trees wilt as I go by....... but its tax free as its a 1972.

My Bosses BMW 5 series, he does about the same miles as me, but it uses more fuel than mine, so does the same damage to the roads, uses far more fuel so should be less environmentally friendly, but because it has some clever software, the emissions are lower so his tax disc is only about £40 a year.

My neighbour has a Tesla S. Epic piece of kit, 400bhp, instant torque, all the toys but all electric so Zero road tax. But, he does about 30,000 milesa year and damages the roads but pays nothing towards it. However, his electricity is not free, its generated probably by a coal burning or nucelar power station. Hmmmmm.

So, these cars show the tax system is all wrong.

But, in 2017 the tax system is changing. Unless zero rated like the Tesla, all cars will pay tax (except the historic unless they scrap that too!) There will be 2 rates of duty. Higher and lower. The higher rate will be paid on cars with a list price of over £40k (that's my Mercedes being replaced with a Mondeo then!) and the lower rate will be the standard rate for everyone. My wife will not be happy as her current Ecoboost Focus is only £20 a year but that will rocket to about £160.

Buy a new Range Rover and pay the £2000 first year tax? No way, buy it as 4 months old and its exempt.

On the whole, I think the rolling tax exempt status should be supported, but don't get upset if it is cancelled completely.

[Alec]

Hello Alan,

"his electricity is not free"

400 bhp about 300 Kw, do you know what sort of power capacity he has at his house (presumably that is where he charges it?) as the average home only has an 18Kw supply. As he does so many miles it needs a rapid charge to be practical?

Alec