AA bosses have issued an urgent warning to motorists about new EV pay-per-mile car tax charges set to be introduced in just a matter of years. There are fears that electric car owners could attempt to clock their mileage odometers in a bid to avoid paying fees. However, the AA has revealed that MOT garages will definitely be able to spot motorists attempting to fraudulently tamper with their cars.
The Treasury has already suggested that there will be “scope for some motorists to declare inaccurate mileage readings without this being immediately apparent.” The consultation report has already explained that the Government recognises that the “introduction of eVED may increase the likelihood of motorists choosing to clock their vehicles”. It is suggested that around 2.3% of UK vehicles may have their mileage counters clocked.
There is also a risk that motorists could allow their odometer to be inoperative so as not to monitor mileage. However, speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, AA President Edmund King suggested that garages would not have the wool pulled over their eyes.
He said: “MOT testers are skilled at spotting fraud. There are various telltale signs, such as the previous MOT certificate mileage, and the odometer doesn’t match. If fraud is suspected, inspectors could ask to check the car’s service history documents to check the mileage it had on its last service, as well as the MOT database. There are also various online databases to check, such as AA Cars or HPI.
“It is also a clue if cars have excessive wear and tear but very low mileage. So, if a car is showing 5,000 miles on the clock but has worn steering wheel, gear stick, or brake pads, this may be a clue.”
According to the eVED consultation, vehicle manufacturers will retain responsibility for ensuring that odometers cannot be tampered with. The Government said it was “considering further options to mitigate against odometer tampering”.
The eVED consultation document stressed that officials intend to engage with manufacturers, the leasing industry and insurers to help minimise issues. If necessary, the Government has explained that it will take necessary legislative action to strengthen enforcement.
The new rule will introduce a 3p per mile charge for electric car owners and a 1.5p rate for Plug-In Hybrid models.
The new charges have been introduced to offset the loss of fuel duty revenue as more road users make the switch away from petrol and diesel models.
