Taxed me car the other day, and it got me thinking, why do the government discount the taxation level if you py for 12 months instead of 6? It's £185 if I tax for 12 months, but £102 if I tax for 6 months. Over a year, thats a £17 increase if paying for only 6 months.

Surely, if this is a tax that is a set amount, they should not be "discounting" it. It also seems wrong that people who can ill afford the tax levels as it is, nevermind 12 months as opposed to 6 months, (ie. the poor/lowest earners) are once again shafted by Labour.

The only thing I can think of is that the post office take the same commission for taxing a vehicle for 12 months as they do for 6 months; which again seems wrong to me, if this is correct, then they should lower the commission of 6 months taxation by levelling it out, or increase the commission of 12 months tax to match the relative cost of earning 6 months commission, which may mean one or two less post office closures??

I always take money out of my business account to pay for car tax so it don't really bother me, but when I think about the amount we motorist's pay in fuel tax to sustain the cushty lives of all the bag eds, it makes me a bit sick handing the money over lol.

I don't think the Post office thing stands up because you can do it on line now and I don't think there is any difference? You would think doing it on line should make it cheaper as you are doing all the work and a human never touchs it apart from the Postman who delivers said envelope.

Can't understand why people get six months tax anyway. If you can't afford a year then you shouldn't own a car.

Just thought I would throw the last bit in to get a reaction as it is a slow night.

I think there will be a lot of people going for 6 months, in this current financial climate mate; if the choice is between 6 months tax and food for xmas, and 12 months tax, people will choose sensibly (one would hope). If someone has enough money for 6 months, what do you think they should do, get rid of their car and in the process lose their job?

Now, if you have to buy a car on finance, maybe one could say you can't actually afford that car. But thats a totally different argument.

Personally I got 12 months last year, but I just got 6 months, because I may well get a Rover 200 Coupe or MG ZS before March lol.

Just realised the irony of that statement, there's gonna be a lot of people over the next year, who won't be able afford either the finance on their cars or the car tax lol.

I thought the same Matt when I bought tax the other month.

Why do they offer a discount on tax???

I always try and buy 12 months so that the MOT and Tax doesn't end in the same month, but being nearly £200 for 12 months, it's a lot of money out of mine, and probably a lot of other peoples wages, even more so when my insurance costs me £200 a month too!

Exactly mate, a lot of people need car's for work etc, and without them, they would be out of a job. And as you say, £200, on top of soaring fuel costs, food costs and insurance costs, nevermind mortgage etc, mean's a LOT of people will have to go for the 6 month option, which mean's they will unfairly be paying more than people who are better off and able to afford the full 12 month's at the time the tax is due.

I know it's not a lot of money, but ive always believed that yeah, we need to pay tax, but surely it needs to be fair?

Tax is rape.

We get tax when we buy a new car. 17.5% on a £15,000 car would be £2500ish.
We tax it to use it on the road. average £200 a year.
We get taxed on fuel. god know what this adds up to. say 7,000 miles at 40 mpg at £4 per gallon is £700, £500 of which is tax.
We get tax on the fuel tax. see above.
Im sure MOT's are taxed too.
We pay tax on insurance. a £600 premium would be £90ish if tax is only 17.5%, its probably taxed on that too.
We get taxed to use tunnels and tolls.
Now their taxing to use city centres. say 50 visit per year at £5 is £250
They tax us to buy parts to repair cars. say £500 of parts at 17.5% is £75

Thats £3615 to buy and run a car for a year in tax alone, £1115 if you dont buy a car. That doesnt take into account that some people pay £400 for tax, and others do 20,000 miles per year, and some drive into London everyday and some pay £1500 a year insurance and most have no choice.

Im sure theres more taxes too.

Scandelous isnt it; just a few notes to add:

- IPT (Insurance Premium Tax) is set at 5.00% (reduced rate).
- The VAT on fuel is actually illegal under EU VAT rules. They specify that VAT can only be levied on a product or service, and tax is neither. Therefore, adding VAT to the price of fuel, inclusive of the fuel duty, essentially mean's that we are paying a tax, on a tax. The government uses a sly loophole to exploit this law however, and the consumers once again, are ripped off.

You are kidding aren't you? 200 squids a month for insurance? I just about pay that for a year with all the perks that go with it. You are either very young, are a crap driver, have hundreds of penalty points, been banned or drive a car you can't afford? Sorry but there is something not right. No offence like!

None of the above

21, driving 3 years, 3 penalty points, 1.6 bmw, no no claims

It was £100 a month before that, but I cancelled my insurance due to car being SORN a few months before getting 1 years no claims.

Only to find out after being SORN for over a year, and nothing else changing to my driving status i.e. no more points except having my licence an extra year, that my insurance would double - Nice one you robbing barstard insurance companies

I feel for you mate; I pay £290 a year or summit like that, it's plain rediculous what you have to pay. When will you get your 1yr NCB mate? Hopefully you will be able to get far more competitive quotes then!!

Government are probably making about £100+ per year out of you for insurance premium tax!!

mot's are vat free, about the only bloody thing to do with cars that is free of vat!!

any one noticed how much auto gas has gone up these days!

This month, the cheapest is still £110 a month is though

I just got my insurance renewal yesterday. Work this one out.

Old Quote : 20yo, 1yncb, 1 year driving no points or claims. 1985 RS Turbo : £1097

New Quote : 21yo, 2yncb, 2 years driving, no points or claims, same car : £1190

eeerrrrrrrrrr i dont think so.

You shouldnt worry.

Current quote : 20yo, 1yncb, 1 year driving no points or claims. 1994 Micra Wave :£ 1048 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Which, is exactly the same Ive been quoted for a 1997 Alfa Romeo 146 1.6 TSpark.

wow thats 2 quid cheaper than it costs me to insure my honda civic and import 3000gt and i thought that was bad

Craig, I just tried on a 1999 Afla 146 1.6 Junior TS and got £530 cheapest, however my own insurer, Quinn Direct, who are approx 70% cheaper than everyone else for my 420 (£290 per year), are currently upgrading their quote system so can't quote me. This was with Collingwood, the next best quote was amazingly £918, and that's with £30 cashback!!

That was 22, with one claim (not at fault though, didnt affect my NCB) and 5 years NCB (I will have this in February).

So given your age and NCB status, thats probably not too bad a price in all honesty!!

Well, seeing as I turned 21 on Thursday, the quote is no down to £840

Impreza soon anyone?

Interestingly, just did the same quote for my 420, and got the exact same price from Collingwood, and £800ish from everywhere else, although with the 146 I selected no security as I don't know, and with the 420 I selected factory fitted alarm and immobiliser.

So right now, im hoping that come February, Quinn are still wanting to keep me as a customer as I cba paying 40% more than I am right now, for the same car haha!!

Yea, its got a factory fitted alarm and immobiliser. Ive never heard of Collingwood. Im with Bell on the Micra, who refused to insure me on te Alfa. Which is stupid, as Admiral, who own Bell, gave me my cheapest quote on the Alfa.

Crazy Crazy world.

Ive never heard of Collingwood either; having said that though, I had'nt heard of Quinn before I insured with them a few year's back, and now they seem to be a popular little brand lol.

Collingwood FTW maybe? Loooooool!