‘I’m a car expert - older vehicle owners can avoid car tax changes and reduce bills to £0'
Motorists can make massive car tax savings and avoid 2024 fee increases by taking advantage of a simple rule.
Car expert urges drivers to check for tax exception eligibility
Classic car owners and those with older vehicles may dodge new 2024 car tax changes due to an exemption clause.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates will rise for almost all petrol and diesel vehicles from April 2024 as costs increase with inflation.
However, those with cars more than 40 years old could stop paying the annual fee altogether due to the DVLA’s historic tax class.
Applying could see dozens of owners slash hundreds of pounds off their annual motoring bill in just minutes.
Khari Findlay, Sales Executive at used car dealership Big Motoring World said motorists could even reduce their annual road tax bill to £0 if their vehicle fits the criteria.
He said: “Historic cars or vintage cars, so a car older than 40 years old will also be exempt from tax too.
“So if you like a Triumph Spitfire for example, you’ll be exempt there which is brilliant.”
The historic tax exemption is offered on a rolling 40-year basis and changes every year.
This means motorists who own a vehicle built before 1 January 1983 would have been able to stop paying tax from 1 April 2023.
DON'T MISS
New car tax changes must be introduced ‘urgently’ experts warn [LATEST]
New 2024 car tax changes unveiled - how much every driver will pay from April [ANALYSIS]
Owners of older vehicles set to face fresh 2024 car tax hike from this spring [COMMENT]
Drivers who do not know when their vehicle is built can also apply for an exemption.
Under these circumstances, a model must have been registered before 8 January 1983.
The rules also state classic cars will only be exempt if they are not used for hire or reward such as a taxi for paying customers.
Historic models must also not be used commercially for a trade or business to receive the freebie.
However, experts have warned vehicles must still be registered with officials at all times.
It means motorists cannot simply stop paying the DVLA their annual fee when their car reaches the 40-year threshold.
Darren Miller, Marketing Director at Big Motoring World warns: “It’s important to remember that qualifying for an exemption is not enough, as you will still need to make an official claim before you can reduce your tax bill.
“Just because your vehicle is exempt from road tax, you shouldn’t forget to register it with the DVLA if you will be using it on a public road or file a Statutory Off Road Notification when your vehicle is ‘off-road’ for a certain period.
“To find out whether you’re eligible for car tax exemption, you can visit the gov.uk website.”