Window wipers: New cars to be more expensive as VAT set to rise
Written by Fiona Birkwood.
Those considering buying a car in the New Year may wish to reconsider and simply invest in new cheap car bulbs as VAT returns to 17.5 per cent.
This week’s Pre-Budget Report is set to confirm the rate will rise by 2.5 per cent in 2010 and that the scrappage scheme, which has incentivised thousands of motorists to but new vehicles, will end.
A recent survey by Europcar found that, to cut motoring costs, 65 per cent of people are driving less and choosing to travel by bus or other transport.
The survey also found that 62 per cent of people have changed the way that they drive in order to conserve fuel.
A third of respondents said they had opted to car share in order to reduce costs.
The Energy Saving Trust will welcome these reductions in car usage and fuel consumption as these lead to a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
According to the trust, the road transport sector produces about a quarter of the UK’s total carbon dioxide emissions and almost 60 per cent of this figure comes from passenger cars.
