Safedrive

New charges for use of UK roads?

It has been announced that a bill has been introduced into The House of Commons, which proposes charging all HGV’s over 12 tonnes a fee to use UK roads.  This will apply to both UK & Foreign HGV drivers.  It is thought that it will be almost cost neutral for UK drivers with it being offset by a reduction in their current VED (vehicle excise duty)  payments.   It is aimed at making the system fairer as at the moment UK hauliers already have to pay to use many foreign roads.

UK based hauliers will pay for the levy on a 6 monthly or annual period, foreign companies can pay the levy daily, weekly, monthly or annually.  Rebates will be made under certain circumstances.  Revenues are paid into the consolidated fund and the UK scheme will be administered by the DVLA or the DVA.

The only bone of contention may come with the news that it is the intention to get a privately owned company in to sub contract and be responsible for collecting the revenue from the Foreign companies.

The selected contractor will be required to maintain an electronic database and UK enforcement agencies will have access to this database and will have powers to levy fines upto level 5 on the current scale (£5000).  Also an offence may be subject to a fixed penalty allowing the Secretary of State to refuse to issue a vehicle licence if he is not satisfied that the appropriate levy has been paid.