New car tax would be bad for environment, say motor trade

A NEW charge on people buying cars could be imposed to help reduce pollution and energy use, according to the Policy Council’s Draft Energy Plan.

In view of the increasing number of cars in Guernsey, the draft plan states: ‘We may need to consider fiscal approaches at initial purchase [of a car], as adopted in some other countries.’

But managing director of Bougourd Ford and chairman of the Guernsey Motor Trades Association Iain Carse said that imposing charges on car buyers would be worse for the environment. He said that 15 new cars would produce less pollution that one 10-year old car, and tax on new vehicles would mean that fewer people would upgrade.

‘People who can afford big gas guzzlers couldn’t care less about an increase in tax,’ he said. ‘When a tax was introduced in Jersey, it was the bottom end buyers who suffered – those who were already stretching their budget. They will be put off by the extra cost and end up running their old, high-emission cars for longer.’ (from GEP)

So why don't the government only impose a tax on the big gas guzzlers, then as the GMTA chairman said i would only be the people who can afford it pay and leave the small car user alone...

wish they would leave car drivers alone..an mot would be better it would then get rid of most of the unroadworthy cars being driven around the island in one foul swoop

They should go and look how many cars are dumped all over the place with a insurance disc on ..and investigate if it is worthy! as i know of many who get a disc then cancel the insurance ..as they pay monthly..so they have a disc in date but it is not worth the paper it is written on
it is these folks who make it dab for other drivers who pay their dues

Bul##hit just another out of the blue tax money making scheme. I believe in the twenties in America it was called extortion.