Should cars that use more petrol be taxed more

Question

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7539625.stm

MP's are arguing over planned increases on road tax on gas guzzlers. Do you think 4x4's and other cars that use lots of petrol should be taxed more?

Answer 1

Well I don't know how they do things where you are, but here in the US taxes are collected on the sale of gas, so gas guzzlers do indeed get taxed more in that way.  

I wouldn't favor additional measures to discourage the use of such vehicles in general, because such vehicles are used for legitimate commercial reasons.

I would like to see additional measures taken to discourage the unnecessary use of such vehicles.  As single passenger commuter vehicles for example.  I would impose some kind of rationing on people who can't demonstrate they are engaged in commericial activities that require large amounts of fuel.

This would discourage demand and ensure affordable fuel would be available for the legitimate commercial travel our economy depends on.

Answer 2

Road tax is a joke! If you want to tax people who drive gas guzzlers properly put the f'ing road tax on the fuel then that would be fairer to everyone! My car is in the lower tax bandand I do 2000 miles per year. I pay the same road tax as someone that does 200000 miles per year!

Answer 3

Maybe so, but as of yet, my car has never paid taxes.

I bought the car used but as far as I know, other than hauling my a$$ around, my car has never had a job. I put gas in the tank but I don't pay my car a salary so I really can't see where taxing my car would do any good.

My car has no money.

If my car were to be taxed more and it didn't have the money to pay would they put it in car prison?

That sux as I would have no way to get to work to pay my taxes!

Answer 4

They are already paying more tax because more petrol means more tax.  Anyway, doesn't the car tax disappear into a black hole?  It isn't ring-fenced for roads.

Answer 5

Just another way to fleece more money out of the British taxpayer.   People who drive bigger cars already pay more tax on the amount of petrol they buy.  

Considering MPs just shove everything on the old "expenses" claim, it won't affect them of course, they can carry on driving their big gas-guzzlers around quite happily . . .

Answer 6

All Cars to date should be taxed as before. If a New Tax system is to come into force then it should only do so after an agreed period in the future. That should only affect cars made after that Year. The big cars would then become Collectors items.

Answer 7

they already are...they buy more gas and pay more gas taxes

Answer 8

Like they're gonig to scrap their own cars.

Answer 9

without a doubt. otherwise it is just a tax on ownership not usage.

Answer 10

no use more petrol  and the more petrol tax you will pay the mps are not bothered there will get a allowance

Answer 11

I don't like the question, it's like a government question, why not say 'cars that use LESS petrol' be taxed LESS?.

Answer 12

Yes.  I think responsible people should benefit from being responsible.

Answer 13

how many mp's drive bigger cars? theyll be upping the car tax so the revenue collected on it helps them keep their big cars on the road. have you ever seen an mp drive around in a smart car or a 1litre engined car. not many if any at all.

Answer 14

only if the tax goes back to the industry to advance technology - which it won't.

so, no, i don't

Answer 15

Owners of cars and other vehicles which use more gas/petrol already pay more tax because their cars and vehicles use up more fuel or travel fewer miles per gallon.

Politicians have d**n all to do all day except hang about the House of Commons bars smoking and drinking and making a d**n nuisance of themselves making up new laws to make life h**l for the rest of us.

Good job they're all away on holiday.

Have you noticed, the BBC Parliament Channel is show down and will come back on air with the Beijing Olympics - make better use of the d**n thing.

You can still get parliament if you go to the BBC home page and then go to BBC/parliament or some such. . .another ten hour speech of total c**p from the leader. . . .

Answer 16

How many times do we have to pay for the same thing.  This government is just robbing us - they aren't green - Gordon Brown is just mean.  

Answer 17

Many 4x4 types are used in the country and are essential for people to get around. People in the country already pay way over the odds for fuel already. It is just a tax to make more money for the government and nothing to do with the evnironment. All manufacturers have to do to reduce emissions is to increase filtering within the exhaust system.

If they are going to do this anyway then it should be based on postal codes/location of vehicles and not accross the board.

Answer 18

If they prefer to give me a free car then im all for it.

Answer 19

Taxing "gas guzzlers" is not the solution since many people who own "green cars" drive many more miles than the people who own the "gas guzzlers."  Therefore, while someone may own a 4x4 or a Hummer, they may not drive it as much; thus, they aren't using as much fuel or producing as much pollution.  So... we shouldn't necessarily look at gas mileage... we should look at gas consumption.  Further, I live in the United States, and I do not believe that the government has the right to control what people can or cannot drive.  Where I live, people would not always be able to commute if they didn't own a 4x4 since muddy roads would prevent travel.  Also, our roads would tear up a small eco-car... so... what would you propose for people in these situations?  Should they move to the city?  Moreover, many, many people where I live cannot do their jobs without "gas guzzling" vehicles.  We are a country of farmers, dairymen, ranchers, loggers, etc.  Yes, we do use our vehicles for private transportation, but could I haul a couple of bales of hay without my truck?  How about a month's worth of groceries since I live in a very rural area?  The list goes on and on... So... I think that we need to think past the "gas guzzler" issue since those vehicles are sometimes very necessary for our economy, and we need to remember that not everyone has to be politically correct and own a little hybrid.  I would like to see a hybrid haul a load of cattle to market...

Answer 20

Theoretically they are already by way of the fuel levy. However, the solution lies in getting people to be more efficient and not use their cars as much. We live in a  fast and furious world and we have to get everywhere by car, so we are the architects of our own suffering here.

Reduce the dependent use of vehicles = saving. the only answer

Answer 21

they are taxed more - they use more fuel, and we all know how much that costs.

if you use more fuel, you pay more tax - its already a good system.

i agree in principle, but rather than fuel usage, emissions is a much more sensible way of doing it. i don't think the government have the right to be telling people what car they should be driving.

p.s. i own a 2.0 BMW - not a gas guzzler.

Answer 22

They already are.

They use more gas so they pay more gas tax.

Answer 23

Now way there is a lot of tax on petrol as it is so the answer no no no no no.