Time To Talk Tax Exemption

[In The Pit]

Now that the nation will be going to the polls next month I think now’s the time to bring up historic vehicle tax exemption , at some point many of us will be visited/telephoned/emailed or approached by a candidate wanting to talk politics so I think we should all take this opportunity to talk about the fact that we’d like the freeze on historic vehicle tax to be lifted even if its just to let some more cars through e.g up to 1/1/1980 or whatever you feel would be right.Im sure plenty of people will say theres no point they wont listen or do anything, by not mentioning it they will do even less. Just say if one MP talks to 3 separate people in their constituency and they all bring up historic tax they’d think that’s unusual and when talking to other candidates in other areas they say they had the same also so and so was saying that they had people talk to them about it. Also if they have to compile a list of issues mentioned to them about things that people felt important to them then they would have to write that in.With the Government offering tax exemption for band A vehicles and now from April 2010 for all new cars for the first year in A, B, C & D. In 2001 the Government made all steam powered vehicles tax exempt so the historic vehicle tax group is long due for an update.If I get the chance ill be making the point that the Government subsidised the new car industry with the scrappage scheme and allowing more historic vehicles to become tax exempt would help the classic car industry.In an election period is about the only time they will listen so nows the time to do something its no good in afew months time posting on a car forum “do you think the Government will bring back tax exemption?†if knowone has mentioned it to politicians they wont think anyone wants it back. If everyone whos into classic cars mentions this then it could help get it bought back or atleast the date bought forward and for those who think that we shouldn’t say anything as we are lucky to have it by saying that we want it will make it less likely to be with drawn as they’d be aware that it would be unpopular with the electorate.

[autofive]

better to keep it as it is. and moan to the candidates about fuel taxi have a free-tax Zephyr and Scimitar and 200 a year each for my other 2 or 3 cars is nothing compared to the cost of fuel tax over a year 1, if HMG was to alter the free-tax dates it would not be in our favour. 2, never trust MPs: they are oily, greedy, manipulative, back-stabbing, lying, bastards. Thats how they became MPs.

[Mr Lobster]

Been discussed many times before but I'd say leave it as it is.I'd rather pay tax and be able to use it whenever, wherever I want than get it free but find that 'classic' status comes with restrictions on where / when I can use it.

[dollywobbler]

Been discussed many times before but I'd say leave it as it is.I'd rather pay tax and be able to use it whenever, wherever I want than get it free but find that 'classic' status comes with restrictions on where / when I can use it.

I'm kind of with that. We might get a 'win' and get a return to rolling tax free, but at what cost and with what useage restrictions?

[AnthonyG]

I'm fairly sure the Tories planned to reintroduce the 'rolling forward' of tax exemption, but this was when they were run by Iain Duncan Smith (the bald ex army bloke) and trailling well behind in the polls, I seriously doubt it has survived Camerons conversion to environmental policies.I reckon a simpler request to move forward the end date of tax exemption to 31 December 1979 or 1984 would have far more chance of success.

[mirafioriman]

We are the only country in Europe not to have a rolling 30 year tax exemption for classics. I think it is a good idea to ask for it back. We pay the fuel duty and he road tax at the moment. Fuel duty keeps going up so we shoul campaign for free tax and save money on our cars the majority of which do less miles and therefore cause less environmental and road damage.

[dollywobbler]

We're also one of few contries in Europe with a huge amount of freedom for classic cars. No restrictions on use, generous regulations when it comes to modifying etc. I personally would rather pay road tax, like everyone else, and be free to use my old car however I see fit.Too many policitions would rather force our 'old bangers' off the road and ensure they really were little more than museum pieces. I don't want that thanks.

[seth]

Y'see, this is where DieselNutJobs slogan works perfectly. "Don't feck with it!" We're all used to the current system the way it is. Its been this way for 13 years now. No need to go messing. You want to save a couple of hundred quid on your yearly tax liability then go buy an old-old car. If you particularly want a late seventies or eighties car the you know what its going to cost you.

[scruff]

Agree 100% Seth - well said!Yours, two tax-exempt motors and three which aren't.

[Ratdat]

I can honestly say that tax exemption is a big deal for me. Sure, it's a nice little extra but in the grand scheme it's not much. It would be great to have all my cars exempt from tax but realistically, fuel duty is where the real cost in running them is. The only single advantage to tax exemption would be if I wanted to have say, ten cars on the road at a time. But I can't see me ever having more than 4 or 5 in use in any one year and most of those would only be taxed for 6 months during the summer into autumn.

[dollywobbler]

Oh and I dislike the use of the phrase 'tax exemption.' It's free tax. Some people do seem to think that you don't need a disc! Mind you, plenty still seem to think that it's a rolling 25 year thing...

[dollywobbler]

It's quite interesting this. I've just googled this thread and found it posted on quite a few others, and none of them seem to have received a positive response. Have most classic car owners got over it now?

[Lankytim]

I think tax exemption was only run for a few years anyway, between '94 and '97 IIRC so its not like its a God given right thats been wrenched away from us by Government.It would be great if they could reintroduce it for vehicles 30 years old or so but it just wont happen. It goes against all the green credentials that have been established over the years. At the moment it feels like a battle just to be "allowed" to drive a car over 10 years old anyway.