Why do people SORN their Maserati?

[JonW]

Rockits, you're predicating a pollution tax. I have no real issue with that, but it's not Vehicle Excise Duty. Nor would it (logically) pay for the upkeep of the roads...

C

^^^^^^^^^^ My point precisely - just made more clearly! ^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[CatmanV2]

^^^^^^^^^^ My point precisely - just made more clearly! ^^^^^^^^^^^^

I nearly quoted you, Jon. I think you made a point jolly well

It's all BS anyway as we don't have ringfenced taxation and thus everything goes into the same pot to be spent. Not sure if that's a good thing. Instinct tells me 'no' but I am no economist.

C

 

[JonW]

I agree with much of your thoughts Jon but have to agree to disagree on this. You have hit the nail on the head. It is entirely and rightly fair that a vehicle that pollutes the atmosphere more should pay more...why is it not fair?

Flip it the other way. Is it fair that someone that drives a more efficient car that pollutes less should pay the same amount as someone with a bigger or less efficient or more polluting car? The current system levied on C02 bands is there for that exact reason.

I'm coming from an angle of an owner of a couple of bigger engined more polluting vehicles. I'm more than happy to pay for my fair dues of car tax. I'm just not overly enamoured with paying for a tax on a car that is not on the public highway or being used.

Weirdly we pay a fixed rate of £265 car tax on the Outlander PHEV per year as it is classed as a commercial with only 2 seats. It is lighter than its 5 or 7 seats non-commercial equivalent but an otherwise identical vehicle. The non-commercial version attracts zero car tax as is less than 50g/km C02. Work that one out?!

Dean - I think this comes down to a lack of clarity over what various different taxes are for, and part of the problem with road tax is that it’s become a bit of a mess in terms of what it is trying to cover

Having said that, I’m 100% fine and in agreement with the idea that people should pay for the choices they make. I choose to drive a high powered V8, and I choose to drive it aggressively. Both of these choices means I have to buy more fuel, which means I pay more fuel tax. I could, if I wanted to, buy a 1.0L Fiesta and pay less fuel tax. I could also choose to buy an electric car, and not pay any fuel tax (apart from what’s included in the price of electricity).

I also accept that I choose to own a car that has higher emissions than others. This means I pay higher road tax than others. What the size of my emissions has to do with the impact of my car on the roads is anyone’s guess, but that’s the law of the land, and I can choose to buy a smaller, cleaner engine car if I want to pay less tax.

However, if you lump the road tax in with the fuel tax, it becomes a double whammy, and (at least in my view) would have more negatives than positives.

 

[rockits]

I think it is a kind of irrelevance as Catman says as all taxes are confused. They all get accrued from different sources and end up in one pot. Then used often inefficiently for lots of different uses. Why is Stamp Duty collected and what is it spent on?

I think the DVLA one would be interesting as I guess it costs a fair bit to have an office that deals with a tax that could be collected/accrued but another means at virtually no cost.

Don't get me started on commercial B2B VAT.....what a waste of time and money that is for everyone from start to finish. Takes a lot of effort to achieve nothing.....seems pointless to me.

 

[pjondeck]

All

This is a genuine question born out of a lack of understanding.

I went for a 90 mins drive today around the Surrey hills in my GS after not having used it for 7-8 days over the Christmas break, and it was a fantastic drive... great fun, really enjoyable, and reminded me how much I enjoy it... it also made me feel the decision to get the underbody waxoyled and protected was worth the effort...

So, my question is, why don’t more Maser owners keep their cars ticking over throughout the winter? I’m presuming that it’s not a money issue as the saving is so small, so am curious as to why people choose to take them off the road for 6 months of the year?

Hi all, forgive the dumb question but I am in Australia. WTF is “SORNING”?

 

[philw696]

Hi all, forgive the dumb question but I am in Australia. WTF is “SORNING”?

Declaring your vehicle off the road meaning you can't use it until you pay the duty or licence fee again.

 

[CatmanV2]

As he said ^^^

Statutory Off Road Notice

C

 

[pjondeck]

Thanks for that. I have 8 historic British motorcycles and am allowed to leave them unregistered for 12 months without doing re registration formalities so at any time several of them may be unregistered. Doesn't work for vehicles under 30 years old. I have 11 vehicles (only one Maser) so it would be nice to be able to "SORN" a few at times. cheers