Road tax - the bands seem unfair for two similarly-engined cars? | Ask Honest John

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Road tax - the bands seem unfair for two similarly-engined cars?

I have just retaxed my wife's Volkswagen Golf Mark 5 Bluemotion, and my own 1997 Audi A4 TDI 110, both of which we've owned from new. Despite the fact that they run on similar 1.9-litre TDI engines, I have paid an annual renewal of £30 for her car and £220 for my Audi.

The Audi has done 280,000 miles, and although it is getting a bit breathless, still returns over 40 mpg. I only drive the Audi about 5000 miles a year now. Would I be really be a greener citizen to kill off my faithful friend, rather than nursing her to the end of her natural life, as I would prefer?

Asked on 23 November 2012 by PHP

Answered by Honest John

Being 'green' in the sense you are writing about is nothing to do with the tax system. That is based on CO2 extrapolated from the EC test regime. The Golf is under 121g/km so is £30VED. £220pa is for the pre-CO2 tax regime for vehicles first registered before March 2001.

Tags: co2 emissions road tax cheap road tax

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