American Dream
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You signed a petition asking the Prime Minister to "Exempt Motorhomes from
the new Emmission Charges."
The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can view
it here:
The Government's response.....Link Removed
The March 2008 Budget announced further reforms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions based Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for light passenger carrying vehicles, increasing the number of bands from six to thirteen in order to incentivise the purchase and manufacture of lower-carbon cars. Therefore, the only vehicles subject to these changes are those that have been registered in the United Kingdom as a light passenger carrying vehicle.
The November 2008 Pre-Budget Report confirms the introduction of new bands for light passenger carrying vehicles in 2009. However, it also announced that to reduce pressures on motorists during the current economic downturn there will be no significant rate changes until 2010. As a result of this announcement:
· in 2009, no driver will pay more than £5 extra; and
· in 2010, no driver will pay more than £30 extra and many will see a tax cut of up to £30. A majority of drivers will pay the same or less than in 2009.
Whether a vehicle is registered as a light passenger carrying vehicle is determined by the European Union (EU) wide vehicle type approval process. This sets vehicles into a number of different categories, one of which (M1), applies to light passenger vehicles with at least four-wheels and up to eight passenger seats. If a vehicle was type approved under category M1 it will have been given a per kilometre CO2 emissions figure and will be licensed in the appropriate taxation class based on that figure.
Currently, motorhomes are exempt from type approval. Consequently, the majority of them are not type approved under M1, and are thus not tested to determine their CO2 emissions figure. These vehicles are therefore not subject to CO2 emissions based VED. Instead, the vast majority are classified for VED purposes as Private/Light Goods Vehicle (PLG). This is based on the engine size and weight of the vehicle. Motorhomes in the PLG taxation class will either see their VED rise limited to £5 in 2009.
However, a limited number of motorhomes have been licensed in the graduated CO2 emissions based VED regime. This is because evidence of their M1 type approval was presented when the vehicles were first registered. As a consequence these vehicles were licensed as M1 light passenger vehicles according to their CO2 emissions.
Motorhomes weighing over 3,500kg (3½ tonnes) are treated under the Private Heavy Goods Vehicle (PHGV) class of VED. These motorhomes have seen their VED frozen at £165 since 2001, under successive decisions that have been linked to the basic goods rate of VED. All decisions on goods vehicle linked rates have been taken as a reflection of the important role of goods vehicles in supporting commerce. The 2008 Pre-Budget Report confirmed that all rates linked to the basic goods rate are again frozen for 2009-10.
It remains the manufacturer’s decision to offer a product under type approval category M1 prior to 2012, whereupon all new motorhomes will be required to comply.
CO2 emissions based rates of VED were introduced in 2001 to provide a signal to motorists of the environmental impacts of their potential choice, reflecting the potential that different M1 light passenger vehicles have to add to the UK’s overall CO2 emissions.
the new Emmission Charges."
The Prime Minister's Office has responded to that petition and you can view
it here:
The Government's response.....Link Removed
The March 2008 Budget announced further reforms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions based Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for light passenger carrying vehicles, increasing the number of bands from six to thirteen in order to incentivise the purchase and manufacture of lower-carbon cars. Therefore, the only vehicles subject to these changes are those that have been registered in the United Kingdom as a light passenger carrying vehicle.
The November 2008 Pre-Budget Report confirms the introduction of new bands for light passenger carrying vehicles in 2009. However, it also announced that to reduce pressures on motorists during the current economic downturn there will be no significant rate changes until 2010. As a result of this announcement:
· in 2009, no driver will pay more than £5 extra; and
· in 2010, no driver will pay more than £30 extra and many will see a tax cut of up to £30. A majority of drivers will pay the same or less than in 2009.
Whether a vehicle is registered as a light passenger carrying vehicle is determined by the European Union (EU) wide vehicle type approval process. This sets vehicles into a number of different categories, one of which (M1), applies to light passenger vehicles with at least four-wheels and up to eight passenger seats. If a vehicle was type approved under category M1 it will have been given a per kilometre CO2 emissions figure and will be licensed in the appropriate taxation class based on that figure.
Currently, motorhomes are exempt from type approval. Consequently, the majority of them are not type approved under M1, and are thus not tested to determine their CO2 emissions figure. These vehicles are therefore not subject to CO2 emissions based VED. Instead, the vast majority are classified for VED purposes as Private/Light Goods Vehicle (PLG). This is based on the engine size and weight of the vehicle. Motorhomes in the PLG taxation class will either see their VED rise limited to £5 in 2009.
However, a limited number of motorhomes have been licensed in the graduated CO2 emissions based VED regime. This is because evidence of their M1 type approval was presented when the vehicles were first registered. As a consequence these vehicles were licensed as M1 light passenger vehicles according to their CO2 emissions.
Motorhomes weighing over 3,500kg (3½ tonnes) are treated under the Private Heavy Goods Vehicle (PHGV) class of VED. These motorhomes have seen their VED frozen at £165 since 2001, under successive decisions that have been linked to the basic goods rate of VED. All decisions on goods vehicle linked rates have been taken as a reflection of the important role of goods vehicles in supporting commerce. The 2008 Pre-Budget Report confirmed that all rates linked to the basic goods rate are again frozen for 2009-10.
It remains the manufacturer’s decision to offer a product under type approval category M1 prior to 2012, whereupon all new motorhomes will be required to comply.
CO2 emissions based rates of VED were introduced in 2001 to provide a signal to motorists of the environmental impacts of their potential choice, reflecting the potential that different M1 light passenger vehicles have to add to the UK’s overall CO2 emissions.
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