Road Tax is stupid

[joggerjayne]

I've just paid £233 for 6 months' tax.

I hardly ever use that car.

I can walk into town. I work from home. When I go to London, I frequently use the train.

If I drive at all, I more often take my little car.

I neither pollute the roads, nor put wear and tear on the roads.

Would it work to factor annual mileage into the cost of road tax?

[joggerjayne]

Mousey ... yes, that would work.

jake ... that's quite nice, but I'm not really looking to change cars.

[jake-the-peg]

I guess you pays yer money you takes yer choice

[joggerjayne]

Mmm ... I guess so.

[R1Geezer]

you're raving to buy it six months at a time!

[joggerjayne]

I know it works out more expensive Geez, but I didn't want to shell out £400.

[R1Geezer]

so what car have you got? how old? Mine is only slightly more than that for a year!

[joggerjayne]

Well, the one I'm moaning about is my Land Cruiser.

I have an MGF, which I use more often, and which is not expensive.

[joggerjayne]

It's not quite 3 years old.

[R1Geezer]

could be worse, they go up to £950!

[joggerjayne]

Crikey !!!!!

[jno]

doesn't sound like your transport exactly suits your needs, does it? You say you're not looking to change cars, but maybe you should be? Bike, car and tank is a lot of options for one person - are you sure you need them all?

[tiggerblue10]

Can't you park it somewhere "off road" and get a SORN as you hardly use it?

[joggerjayne]

Oh, no, it suits me quite well, jno.

The MG is fun, and I don't have family, so I only need 2 seats.

The Toyota is a bit more comfy when the weather is poop, or if I'm taking friends out.

The bike ... okay, that was a mistake. I only learnt to ride a few years ago, and I was a bit excited, and bought it on a whim.

[joggerjayne]

No, Tiggy ... cos I do use it every month ... just not many times.

[milo_11]

Sounds a bit to me like you are trying to have your cake, eating it, then getting frustrated at the conditions in which you are able to have and eat that cake.

No offence meant (seriously), but if you are struggling to afford or are starting to feel the pinch at having all 3 then despite what you want, you should cut back at least 1 of them. The bike, sounds to me the least required. Yes there is a reason for all 3 to be worth having, but justifiable to your living costs as well?
I have a diesel van for work, and a bike. I could quite easily buy a car and justify that into my equation but simply, I can not afford the luxury of a car as well, so unfortunately, I go without one :(

lose the bike. the loss of that could help offset the tax your having to pay. tax, unfortunately is a pita but no way of getting around, and trust me, (from twice previous experience), its not worth declaring sorn and nippin out in it hoping to not get caught...

If you don't want to sell either of the 3, then perhaps you should look at trying to get a better paid job to suit your lifestyle, or get a second job :P

[jno]

most people have varying needs but manage to compromise so they can own just the one vehicle. Do you really truly need separate ones according to whether you're travelling with one person or three or a rugby team? Why not just get a modest-size four-seater and invite surplus friends to travel in their own cars if you're going as a group?

[joggerjayne]

Hi, Milo ...

I'm sure you're right.

Actually, I keep looking at different bikes, so at least I'd have one that I liked to ride.

jno ...

I don't have any family, so my outgoings are not huge.

It's not really the money. It's the fact that 4x4s are seen as popular targets, even when some of us with a 4x4 create much less emissions that people with smaller cars, because we don't use them.

[jno]

JJ, you're a model citizen. You buy a tank, which benefits the economy. You pay big taxes, which benefits the government. Then you don't use it, which benefits the environment.

But are you sure it benefits *you*?

[joggerjayne]

LOL, jno.

I hadn't thought of it like that.

I feel positively virtuous.

Well, it does benefit me, because I love my little MGF but, every now and then, I want to travel in a bit more comfort ... or arrive somewhere looking a bit less dishevelled.