Motorists are opting to scrap some of the most popular cars on the road due to increasing annual car tax bills. According to the Telegraph, some of the most recognisable Ford, Volkswagen and Vauxhall models are now “virtually worthless and being scrapped” by owners as costs continue to rise.
Almost all petrol, diesel and electric car owners pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) fees, with costs rising every year. Cars registered before 2001 pay fees based on their engine sizes, but cars between 2001 and 2017 are charged based on emissions. Some of the most highly polluting models are most affected, with Band M prices jumping to £760 from April 1.
This sounds a lot, but those stretching bills on a monthly basis will pay even more with annual costs of around £798. Those paying their VED charge on a six-month basis are most affected, with drivers paying an annual total to £836.
Popular models affected by this so-called “VED trap” include popular family cars such as the Ford Mondeo V6, Ford Galaxy 2.3 and the Vauxhall Zafira VXR. Highly sought after models such as the Audi TT 1.8T, Volkswagen Golf R32 and the Subaru Forester 2.5 XT have also made the scrap watchlist.
As well as the owners simply ditching the models, classic car dealerships have been left considering whether certain models can even be stocked.
Wayne Lamport from Stone Cold Classics stressed cars from around the mid-2000s were starting to cause problems with some models becoming “unsellable”.
Wayne told the Telegraph: “We have to be very careful when we buy stock which is 2006 or more recent. Cars such as a Jaguar X-Type are great, but who wants to pay more than £700 for the annual tax? It doesn’t take many years of ownership to spend the value of the car.”
