1 millon more cars in the UK

[Tankus]

The Guardian

It has been a remarkable trawl. In only three months, civil servants have found that Britain possesses a million more cars than had been realised. In lock-ups and old garages, flotillas of ancient Cortinas, dodgy Mondeos and rusty Reliant Robins have suddenly come to light.

Britain would truly appear to be a nation of car lovers. It is just that we are not too keen to advertise the fact. Indeed, many of us appear to be anxious to conceal it, for the discovery of the missing million motors has been made only since the Department for Transport began advertising automatic fines for not paying vehicle excise duty this year.

The effect has been to reveal a vast motoring underclass. During the first three months of 2004, more than 10 million cars, vans and motor-cycles were taxed, a startling rise on the first three months of 2003 when only 8.5 million were taxed.

These statistics include 289,000 new vehicles while some of the rest of the increase will include forgetful drivers jolted into action by the threat of a £40-£80 fine. But the rest, made up of more than a million motors, represents cars whose drivers had simply chosen to ignore the taxing of their vehicles - until now.

Some of these vehicles may have been stored in old lock-ups or gardens, but many others were probably being driven illegally until the DfT decided to toughen up its act. The flushing out of these cars was welcomed by motoring groups, though they warned there are probably still another million illegal drivers on the roads.

The discovery of the missing million will be welcomed by the Government. Taxes cost between £55 to £165, so the Treasury can now expect a £100 million windfall.

[Andy-2004]

:o

[Sir Radfordin]

Right now they know that they can start cutting the amount the rest of us have been paying all these years and will continue to pay. Or failing that at least provide a level of public transport where a 1 hour car journey is a far better option than 3 trains, 1 bus and a 20 minute walk talking up to 3 hours.

[Tony]

Hi

They should put the road tax on the price of petrol, that way if you want to drive your car you will have no choice other than to pay the road tax.

This also makes the people that drive big cars and do lots of mileage pay more road tax than your average family car driver.

It will be fairer all round. plus they will not have to spend millions of pounds every year trying to catch the tax dodgers.

Tony

[trackrat]

Ditto Tony

[Pilch]

Problem they will then start using vegetable oil and all sorts of other method's... What about the eco car's? would you have them pay tax being they do use the road, but dont pollute?

I think that there should be tax break's for eco car's, like electric one's and hydrogen one's, although right now the goverment should plough money into this rather than some of the other idea's they have...

[moon]

Right on the nail, tony. Have you considered a career in eDemocracy ? There's no pay but it's very rewarding. :D

[Tony]

Problem they will then start using vegetable oil and all sorts of other method's... What about the Eco car's? would you have them pay tax being they do use the road, but dont pollute?

I think that there should be tax break's for eco car's, like electric one's and hydrogen one's, although right now the goverment should plough money into this rather than some of the other idea's they have...

Hi

Fair enough, but it would not be that hard at the moment to still implement a tax disk system for the Eco cars. When everybody is using them then the problems will start again, but i think that, that is a long way off yet. The petroleum company's wont let Eco cars off the leash yet.

In Germany you can not get away with out paying road tax, the money is took straight from your bank account every year, and if you change your car half way through the year, to a lower class (more friendly) you will get a refund payed into your bank account.

It is also worked out completely different here, it goes on engine size and what grade CAT Converter you have.

Tony

[moon]

Of course, the discovery of a million more cars completely derails the governments plan to build new roads for a projected million more cars. Coupled with the probability of yet another undisclosed million more cars they might as well scrap the whole plan, which is what Greenpeace have been saying for years.

Remember Greenpeace ? They are ones who stuck skull & crossbone stickers on Tesco GM tomatoes eight years ago. Bless 'em. :)