Support surges for petition to reduce road tax on vehicles between 20 and 40 years old, with the call for change being embraced by industry experts
SPECIAL REPORT
A campaign urging Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt to cut road tax for the UK’s modern classics has garnered thousands of signatures.
At the time of writing 5145 people have signed an online petition calling on the Government to cut the amount of road tax paid by owners of classics between 20-40 years old.
The petition on Parliament’s website, started by Claire Knight, says: ‘There are vehicles within the 20-to-40-year age bracket that are well loved modern classics and without a reduction in tax, we may see these vehicles disappear from our roads. As the owner of a 20-year-old modern classic, which is seldom driven more than 1000 miles a year, I have just had my vehicle tax reminder though and even if I were to SORN the vehicle for six months of the year, it would still cost me £180 for six months.’
Historic &Classic Vehicle Alliance (HCVA) executive director, Guy Lachlan, told CCW: ‘HCVA has long lobbied for more proportionate levels of vehicle tax on younger classics.
‘We appreciate that there are environmental reasons behind the tax levels as currently set, but we believe that the most environmentally friendly car that anyone can choose is one that has already been built. If the government continues to ignore enthusiasts' pleas, many familiar cars from the 1990s and 2000s will simply not exist in future because they have been priced off the roads.’
But the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs urged caution as to whether it would genuinely help the historic vehicle community.
Communications director Wayne Scott Wayne Scott added: ‘We support initiatives that aim to keep historic vehicles on our roads but it remains to be seen as to whether a reduction in road tax will be enough to create a sudden surge of interest into the classic car community or whether it will just keep old an
