Its my View

More and more reports are coming out on the effects of the planned increases in Vehicle Excise Duty.
The idea of these tax increases were to influence buyers of new cars to make choices to choose smaller, more fuel efficient and more environmental friendly cars. The plans were announced and were accepted as reasonable by most people.
A short time later, it was quietly states that the tax would apply to all vehicles purchased as new from 2001. So all cars purchased in the last seven years are also to be taxed.
It would be kindest to say that the government did not understand the consequences of their legislation.

In the last few months used cars have lost 25% of their value, family cars have lost even more.
The worst thing about these tax plans are that they effect people who buy second-hand cars significantly more than those who buy new cars.

The tax on (say) a £2000 used car is the same as a brand new car worth (say) £10000 car if they fall in the same emissions bracket.
Worse still, as new cars become more environment friendly their owners will pay less tax than people with older models of the same car!
This is a tax that affects people who buy used cars more than those who buy new cars, and the less that one can afford for a car, the higher is the proportion of tax that they have to pay.
An own goal? Looks like it.