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Conference terri::cars_uk

Title:Cars in the UK
Notice:Please read new conference charter 1.70
Moderator:COMICS::SHELLEYELD
Created:Sun Mar 06 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2584
Total number of notes:63384

666.0. "Road Tax" by IOSG::LAWM (Mathew Law (only *one* T), Reading UK) Tue Jul 04 1989 12:34

    I'm sure that this has been brought up somewhere else, but I can't find
    it.
    
    Until today, I was under the impression that you only had to pay road
    tax on a vehicle which was `on the road' (even if it was only parked,
    but never used).  However, I just read the following in one of the
    local free newspapers:
    
    
    	The clerk to the magistrates told Edwards that the law was changed
    	in 1987 so that it was now an offence to keep a vehicle without an
    	Excise license irrespective of whether or not it was on the road.
    
    
    From the context in which this appears, `on the road' is used in its
    literal sense, and doesn't mean just `being used on the road'.
    
    Thoughts anyone?
    
    Mat.
    *:o)
    
    
    PS  The reason that this interests me is that I am planning to store my
    car on private land next year, and don't want to pay road tax if I can
    avoid it.
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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666.18I last bought one in '79, so I'm getting Rusty ;-)SIEVAX::CORNESometimes you get the Elevator, sometimes the ShaftMon Mar 18 1991 09:246
If the Road Tax changes in the budget tomorrow, when do the new charges apply?

My car is due for a new disk at the end of the month. Is it worth buying a new
one today, or will the price hike be delayed?

Jc
666.19UFHIS::GVIPONDPermies Permies PermiesMon Mar 18 1991 11:197
    
    
    I would have thought that any price rise would be effected after the
    start of the next month, I bought ( well my sister bought it for me )
    my road tax for the start of April last week, I cant see 
    StorminNormanLamont coming round here for the extra 10 quid.
    
666.20HAMPS::JORDANChris Jordan, London Region, Office ConsultantMon Mar 18 1991 11:575
    in the past car tax changes have come into being at 12.00 midnight....
    
    so you might want to buy it late tomorrow afternoon.... There again,
    they might decide to drop the car tax to �0 and increase the tax on
    petrol, and thebn if you had bought it today, you would have lost out!!
666.21SUBURB::PARKERESCAPE - 5 days to go and countingMon Mar 18 1991 13:5610
    Budget starts at 3.00pm (I think)
    
    Normally lasts about an hour and a half, so finishes about 4.30pm.
    
    Post offices close 5.00 (I think)
    
    So listen to budget. If the tax disc goes up, storm round to post
    office straight away.
    
    Steve
666.22I wouldn't bank on itWOTVAX::MEAKINSClive MeakinsMon Mar 18 1991 14:316
    I'd be surprised if road tax were abolished with immediate effect.  In
    fact I'd be surprised if it were abolished all, why should this year be
    any different to all the others when we thought it would happen?
    
    If it did, it would probabaly happen a year hence, with the balance of
    months being purchasable until then.
666.23CRATE::RUTTERRut-The-NutMon Mar 18 1991 17:1416
    I've got a tax disc 'reminder' at home for the end of this month.
    
    In it, it mentions that any price increase due to the budget will
    apply if disc is purchased after 18-3-91.
    
    I cannot see any likelihood of it being reduced.
    
    If, on the other hand, it were dropped to zero pounds, with the cost
    (and more) being put onto the price of petrol, I would expect the Govt
    to provide some way of claiming back duty paid on tax discs that will
    expire after March - otherwise, it would be 'unfair' to anyone who had
    bought 12-months road tax in February (or March).
    
    Not that they consider 'being fair'...
    
    J.R.
666.24JUNO::WOODScalpel, scissors, replace head .......Mon Mar 18 1991 17:196
 They would probably just use the method that is already available for claiming
back unused time on a tax disk.

		 Alan
		~~~~~~
666.25Taxing questionDOOZER::JENKINSwith the mother of hangoversMon Mar 18 1991 17:4417
    
    The RAC said very strongly that the government would scrap road
    tax and replace it with 40p a gallon on petrol. Other sources said
    there was also supposed to be swingeing tax increases on company
    cars with those over 2.0 litres being very hard hit.
    
    But the motor industry lobby has been hard at work as usual in the
    Commons talking about what would happen if they weren't allowed
    to fill up the roads with lorries and cars... 
    
    And everything I've read in the last week would suggest this is going 
    to be a 'tame' budget for the motorist.

    The tax discs, if they were to have been scrapped would all have been 
    "cashed in" as someone suggested earlier in the usual manner as
    of the 1st April.
    
666.26I always knew it was pricey!GRANPA::63654::NAYLORPurring again.Mon Mar 18 1991 18:548
>    The RAC said very strongly that the government would scrap road
>    tax and replace it with 40p a gallon on petrol. Other sources said

At today's exchange rate, that's around $0.78 a gallon - and in DC you can buy
a gallon of regular unleaded for $0.99!!  And US motorists think they're hard
done to if fuel goes up 5 cents a gallon to pay for environmental damage!

Brian (Who_is_going_to_test_drive_a_Cadillac_STS_on_Friday)
666.27when is a gallon not a gallon?SUBURB::THOMASHThe Devon DumplingTue Mar 19 1991 11:1814
>At today's exchange rate, that's around $0.78 a gallon - and in DC you can buy

	Not quite, UK gallons are bigger than US gallons, due to the fact that
	UK pints are 20 fluid ounces, and American pints are 16 fluid ounces.

	UK gallon = 160 Fl oz,      US gallon = 128 fl oz

	so �0.40 a gallon UK is about $0.60 a gallon US......only nit-picking!

	Motto - when ordering a pint of beer - drink it in the UK, and pay for 
	it in the US!

	Heather
666.28Some hopeHAMPS::LINCOLN_JWhere sheep dareTue Mar 19 1991 12:217
	Road Tax will never be abolished. It's the basis for the police
	vehicle computer, keeps tabs on the nation as a whole, employs
	civil servants and brings in lots of money. Politicians just don't
	do away with things like this, however sensible it might appear
	to be.

	-John
666.29And I am sure 'company car perks' will be taxed further stillCHEST::RUTTERRut-The-NutTue Mar 19 1991 12:2617
�	do away with things like this, however sensible it might appear
    
    The sensible thing to do would be to scrap road tax (or road fund
    license, whatever is called) and to have the MOT certificate displayed
    in its place.
    
    That way, plod could check for something a bit more important.
    
    I think that the cost of 'road tax' should be put onto petrol, but I
    feel sure that the amount which would be charged will end up costing
    the average person more, with business users paying LOTS more.
    
    The 'problem' with this is that companies will pass the cost on
    to the consumers, in the long run.  But, would the Chancellor
    take that into consideration (in this 'recession') ?
    
    J.R.
666.30This is a loada waffle !!KERNEL::NICHOLLSCCraig nichollsTue Mar 19 1991 14:2227
    
    
    I was just working out how worse off I'd be if they scrapped the idea 
    of road tax !!
    
    Saying I drove 10,000 miles per year and I did an average of 30 miles
    per gallon. I would be about 20 pounds per year better off. I'd say
    most cars do around 30 miles per gallon. So, if they added 25 pence
    to the price of petrol, anyone doing 14,000 thousand or more miles
    per year would be worse off. Sounds good to me !!
    
    This would make some people go for more economical cars (ie: smaller,
    in some respects !!) and less petrol would be used.
    
    I'd be all FOR this, providing the goverment wouldn't go OTT with the 
    increase in petrol prices !!
    
    craig.
    
    ps...does all this make sense "no" .... I didn't think so
    
    pss...Do you think I ought to renew my tax from october 1990 or shall
    I wait and see what happens first !!
    
    
    
    
666.31UntrueUKCSSE::RDAVIESI can't tryp for notsTue Mar 19 1991 15:4810
>>           <<< Note 666.28 by HAMPS::LINCOLN_J "Where sheep dare" >>>
>>                                 -< Some hope >-

>>	Road Tax will never be abolished. It's the basis for the police
>>	vehicle computer, keeps tabs on the nation as a whole, employs

    PNC is updated from vehicle REGISTRATIONS (and drivers licences). NOT
    from TAX.
    
    Richard
666.32What about the saving by 'catching' the present no-tax brigade .?CHEST::RUTTERRut-The-NutTue Mar 19 1991 16:0913
�    most cars do around 30 miles per gallon. So, if they added 25 pence
�    to the price of petrol, anyone doing 14,000 thousand or more miles
    
    30 mpg, not unreasonable for the 'average private car'.
    
    I do agree with the sentiments that people would be more keen to
    buy more economical cars if petrol prices went up more.
    (sounds like a 'green' issue, huh)
    
    25p per gallon, I had heard rumours (isn't it all rumour ?) that
    the figure may be as high as 40p, then how does it balance up ?
    
    J.R.
666.33No such thing ......VOGON::KAPPLERIt&#039;s a matter of life and debt!Tue Mar 19 1991 16:1812
    Re: .28
    
    Road Tax has already been abolished.
    
    Vehicle Excise Duty has been in place for a number of years now.
    
    Could someone update the topic title?
    
    JK (-:
    
    
    
666.34SUBURB::THOMASHThe Devon DumplingTue Mar 19 1991 17:1414
	Excise duty stays at �100    
    
	Leaded up 3p gallon
	
	Unleaded up 4p gallon
    
	Company cars are liable for NI contribution - tho' as most people who
	have company cars are already over the limit for NI, then I don't
	quite know how much impact this will have........anyone game for
	calling car fleet?

	Heather

666.35?HAMPS::JORDANChris Jordan, London Region, Office ConsultantTue Mar 19 1991 17:307
>>    Leaded up 3p gallon
>>    
>>    Unleaded up 4p gallon

      Seems the wrong way round??


666.36 MARVIN::ILETTTue Mar 19 1991 19:1611
What I heard was - 

leaded up 4p per LITRE
unleaded 3p per LITRE
diesel 3.n p per LITRE

NI on company cars is only to be paid by employers not employees.
Scale charges up 20%.
VED fixed at �100.

Phil.
666.37No petrol increases here either :-)UNTADH::LEWISHave Bike, will Ski...Wed Mar 20 1991 07:594
    Aren't I glad I just sold my Company Car :->
    No Tax on Company Bikes either :->
    
    He he he.
666.38Is this from Digital!! NEWOA::MACMILLANSo many roads, so little timeThu Mar 21 1991 16:308
>>    No Tax on Company Bikes either :->
    

	Rob,  have you got a company bike then??

	If so - how did you get it

	Rob
666.39Not from DigitalVOGON::MITCHELLEBeware of the green meanieFri Mar 22 1991 08:2511
    
    I have a company bike too, but I don't believe Digital offer them, I
    know of people who have asked for one on the lease scheme, and been
    refused.
    
    That would be one way of Digital becoming more 'green'.
    
    In answer to where do you get one... become a contractor, you're
    company may then look favourably on your request for a bike :-) !
    
    Elaine
666.40CogniSys Consultants...UNTADI::LEWISHave Bike, will Ski...Fri Mar 22 1991 08:2817
    Ah, well - I own the company (I was so impressed...)
    
    I rang up a lease company and asked, and after a bit of pondering, they
    said yes, they could do it. I then introduced them to my local dealer,
    and 3 days later I had a company bike.
    That way I get to set the rental against my Corporation Tax, and I
    can claim back the VAT.
    With the mileage I do, I think I would have suffered a lot of
    depreciation if I had purchased - I estimate 75,000 miles in 3 years.
    
    So, buy a company, and you too can have a company bike ;-)
    
    FWIW I don't think DEC would go for it, I was once told that
    'Motorcycles are not a professional form of transport' after I visited
    Utrecht by bike...
    
    Am�d�n