Tell me about it-my tax disc is worth more than my car.

It's a ridiculous tax, ostensibly designed to encourage people to buy cars which use less fuel. Of course efficiency and overall consumption tend to have a positive correlation...

Its not madness its simply a case that the pick up is classified as a commercial vehicle normal emission rules do not apply, some people specify commercial Discoveries with blacked out back windows and no rear seats for the same reason, plus with a commercial you can, if you qualify, claim back the VAT.

We bought a Hilux in 2007 when we would have preferred a Landcruiser, the VED debacle played a big part in the choice.

Some artics can actually cost less to tax than the pick up, usually big stuff downrated to lower weights, eg 44t downplated to 28t when permanently on light work like foam or assembled soft furnishings.

The whole VED thing is a game, you have to play it as best you can.

Interestingly if you happen to own a Euro4 light commercial regd before late 06 (i believe) then your VED is only about £120.

My S-Type cost me £475 this year.

Yeah, life sucks as my American friends say. My Subaru cost me £270.00 this year. But, think of all the good your money will be doing to those who need it more; it's a tax when all is said and done.

My grandson and his father have similar vehicles and they have an arrangement with a local chipshop proprietor.

I keep a good distance between my car and those in front to avoid with the fumes.

Car tax is but one chunk of the pie....insurance is far more of a pain to me. Having said that, I dropped a tax bracket by getting rid of my Mazda 6 and buying the MX-5. Same sized engine.....but newer so tweaks will have dropped the CO_2. Brother in law pays less for his horrible 3-series.

I find the road tax a complete mystery!

We have 2 Hyundai I30's both diesel automatics and both registered in 2010. The older car registered in March 2010 has a lower CO2 rating than the younger car which is registered in June 2010.

When i complained to Hyundai, it turned out that the younger car was actually made in 2009 and has a less efficient engine, which is why it has a higher CO2 rating.

This never even crossed my mind, very annoying because it adds an extra £50 per year at the current rate.

The only way to be sure is to to check the car you are going to buy on the DVLA vehicle check website, that's the only rating that actually counts.

Why don't they just make it £1 per gCO2?

Then it would be fair, and makers wouldn't try to get below the nearest bar, they would instead think every gramme counts.

I think the current, CO2 measured, taxation scheme has been largely successful. For the record, every single new model released in the last 3 years has had lower emissions and higher mpg than the car it replaces. No exceptions.

The same thing happened with GCSE results for 26 years. Do you really believe that the class of 2011 was that much better educated than the class of 1988?

Poliiticiasns use the word "efficiency" because it s doesn't have the hair-shirt connotations of "economy". The problem with efficiency drives is that, when they are successful, they always lead to a dramatic increase in consumption...

I find it outstanding that people do not check the C02 rating before they buy a car it could not be easier to find the information after all it could mean the difference of a few hundred pounds a year.

So I check it. What difference does that make to the price?

Needed a Berlingo Multispace. Diesel. Didn't want HDi. Other than not paying road tax what other option are you suggesting?

I suppose if you were unlucky enough to have a Volvo or Jaguar petrol you wanted to sell and the road tax was nearly as much as the car is worth then you would be pretty fed up.

My son has just bought his wife a new fiesta and I think its road tax free for five years we seem to have a much fairer system here in Germany but I suppose a country has to get its money from somewhere .

Edited by Collos25 on 30/11/2012 at 15:18