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What To Expect From The Changes To The Car Tax System

Here we have outlined the changes that will be happening at the start of April 2017 and how it will affect car owners.

The tax system that we use at the moment is based on carbon dioxide emissions.

Changes To The Car Tax System

There is a high percentage of motorists who drive cars that fall into the lower tax bands and enjoy the low tax rates of £20/30 a year.

So will the changes planned for the 1st April affect these cars? The answer is no.

If you own or buy a car that has been registered before April 2017 the current system will continue to apply.

The changes will only affect cars registered for the first time from 1st April 2017.

There will be a ‘First Year Rate’ which will be based on the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the car. You won’t be able to make a 6 month payment during the first year.

Changes To The Car Tax System

Following that a standard annual rate will apply – there will be 3 standard rate bands.

  • Petrol/Diesel £140
  • Alternative Fuel £130
  • Electric Vehicle £0

Cars that have a list price above £40,000 will be subject to an additional tax rate of £310 on top of the standard rate. This supplement is only payable for the the first 5 years from the second time that the car is taxed. After the 5 years you will pay the standard tax rate for that particular vehicle.

Why has the government decided to makes these changes to the car tax system ?

Our current tax system was introduced in 2001 when average new car emissions were 178gCO2/Km. In 2003 the Band A threshold in which cars that produce less than 100gCO2/Km and pay no tax was introduced. Since then average new car emissions have dropped to 125gCO2/Km.

This means that an increasingly large number of cars fall into the lower rated tax bands. This has created a sustainability challenge, as well as an unfairness as owners of newer cars pay less than owners of older cars that generally produce higher levels of CO2.

The new system still has a CO2 emission determined payment at the start to incentivise buying cleaner cars. However the flat rate means that the system is fairer and more sustainable in the long term.

Watch this video which will explain in more detail how the changes to the Car Tax system will affect you.

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Fundraising Events For Castle Tower School

This year the team at McAfee Cars Ballymena decided to host a couple of fundraising events for Castle Tower School. We feel that it is very important to support our local community and the people in it and so the team at McAfees Ballymena planned two very different events to raise some money for the school.

Castle Tower School provides first class education, medical support and care for children with learning difficulties and disabilities to help them lead a full and happy life. The school community celebrates the talents of individual and strives to improve the quality of each person’s life by developing confidence, tolerance, curiosity, honesty and happiness.

Some of the staff at the garage have children that have attended the school and it was a place that all of us felt passionate about helping.

McAfees Ballymena hosted 2 fundraising events for Castle Tower School – a relay team at the Belfast City Marathon and a car wash in Ballymena.

In May Ryan, Chris, Paul, Jonathan and Sarah formed a relay team to take part in the Belfast City Marathon. Four hours and a few sore knees later they were £1500 the richer for Castle Tower School.

Then in October the whole McAfees Ballymena team along with a few friends and family, gave up a Saturday morning to host a Car Wash and Coffee Morning at the garage. We had overwhelming support before the car wash even started with some of our suppliers donating soap, sponges, buckets, chamois and air fresheners to the cause. So firstly we would like to thank Fyfes, Ballymena Engine Spares, Autosmart and Neilson Chemicals for your generosity.

That day the showroom smelt of coffee and cake rather than car polish as the coffee morning got under way. We were delighted to see so many people stop for a cuppa and a chat as well as a car wash. In total the guys washed 84 cars and raised another £1500 for the school.

We want to thank our customers, friends and families who gave so generously; we were really touched by the support given to the Belfast marathon relay team and the car wash & coffee morning in Ballymena. We are thrilled to be able to donate £3000 to Castle Tower School and are delighted to see the money going to good use as they put it towards buying a wheelchair accessible minibus.

To find out more about the school please check out their website here.