Motorists are bracing themselves as they could be hit with up to £150 extra on their Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) car tax bills this year, but a nifty tool can help them find out in seconds. By simply entering their number plate into the online checker, drivers can quickly determine their vehicle’s CO2 emissions and the corresponding car tax band.
The sting in the tail comes after the DVLA hiked VED fees from April 1 for the majority of petrol, diesel, and electric car owners, with some facing significant increases. Vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017 are subject to VED charges based on total emissions, with the cost escalating depending on emission levels, reports the Express.
Breakdown experts at the AA have issued a warning that motorists within this bracket could be in for a “major financial shock”. Jack Cousens, an AA spokesperson, remarked: “VED changes and future increases threaten a major financial shock to the finances of millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the 2001-2017 CO2-banded system.”
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He further explained that for those driving older low-CO2 small family and city cars, transitioning to the current standard VED rate might result in an annual increase of £150 or more in their vehicle tax.
Cousens also highlighted the burden this represents against the backdrop of existing expenses, stating: “With the average car currently paying £436.84 in fuel duty a year – or £524.21 when VAT is added at the pump – a £150 increase in the VED they will pay represents a 34% hike (29% with VAT) on top of what they are paying in fuel duty.”
Government data has suggested that 58% of drivers in the UK are paying tax on the older CO2 emissions-based fees which apply to older vehicles.
Using WeBuyAnyCar’s free online number plate checker, road users can quickly find out the engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2 (g/km) of their model.
This can help motorists quickly identify how much they will pay in VED over the next 12 months. The number plate checker also informs road users of tax status, tax due date and MOT history. It means road users will not run the risk of letting their car tax expire without renewing it before the deadline.
VED prices are also up for new petrol, diesel and electric models registered after 2017 with standard fees up from £190 to £195. Meanwhile, vehicles registered between 1985 and 2001 will pay up to £20 more in VED fees with prices calculated based on the size of their engine.
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