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Darling introduces new 'gas guzzlers' tax

Drivers of highly-polluting vehicles are to face extra taxes, chancellor of the exchequer Alistair Darling told parliament yesterday.

The new £950 "showroom" tax will be applicable to cars emitting over 255g of carbon per kilometre.

It is a one-off payment, levied upon the purchase of the vehicle, and is aimed at encouraging more people to buy low-emissions cars.

The tax also represents a further financial burden for British drivers, many of whom already face rising car insurance premiums as well as their car loans repayments.

Chief executive at drivers' group SMMT UK Paul Everitt commented: "Introducing what is effectively a sales tax for many new cars is a retrograde step.

"Trying to force people out of high-value cars has no environmental merit and will be seen as a smokescreen for revenue-raising," he said.

However, Mr Everitt also acknowledged that there had been a "clear trend" towards greener, lower-emitting vehicles in the UK market in recent years.

The tax is scheduled to come into effect in 2010.

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