More anomalies in vehicle taxation (2)

Further to the revised circulation tax as published in The Times (November 7), here is a more realistic table calculated on a 10 and 20-year-old vehicle representing the percentage increase. This hike in taxes is unprecedented and is beyond the financial limits of Joe Public, self-employed, pensioners and mothers who convey their children to school. Unfortunately, the majority of car owners fall into these categories and, in this country, a car is a necessity and not a luxury as one might think. Knowing how unreliable the public transport service is, the humble citizen has to resort to his own transport to earn a living, and has to maintain three separate jobs in order to make ends meet.

I am not surprised that car dealers are very concerned, as they know that only a few can afford to replace their vehicles after seven years and, worse still, will be trying to dispose of that "old" vehicle. All vehicles are imported and, regardless of who imports them, the new registration and circulation tax have to be met by the customer. Car sales are going to decline and, as for the second hand car market, nothing but uncertainty lies ahead. This is a Catch 22 situation and new engine size categories are also implemented. The figures for the 1801 - 2000cc are indeed alarming. Owners of motor caravans will be worst hit for using their vehicles during the three summer months in a year, as vehicle length is now a contributing factor. To ease the financial burden, most EU countries adopt a six monthly basis vehicle tax but, unfortunately, it does not apply in this country.

I am not a mechanic but when the garage informs me that my vehicle meets the required emission criteria and is fit to be used on the road, then why am I being heavily penalised to use it? The audacity of all this is that buses, coaches, mini-buses and trailers are exempt from the new tax. I prefer to class them as immune, as the consequences for the government would be unthinkable. This adds insult to injury to Joe Public, who had faith in this government. I have travelled extensively worldwide with the British Military and never have I experienced a government which virtually doubles taxes across the board overnight. This will eventually lead to job losses, small businesses shutting down, which will result in higher unemployment figures.