New pay-per-mile car tax means drivers doing 'average' mileage will pay £1,080

New pay-per-mile car tax means drivers doing 'average' mileage will pay £1,080
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Drivers travelling from London to Manchester or London to Edinburgh in the new pay-per-mile car tax system face £120 charges. Motorists have been warned seeing family at the other side of the country could prove costly under the Labour Party government.

Majid Ismailzada, Marketing Director & Motoring Expert at GM Direct Hire , said: "It’s clear that many families are concerned about the impact of this new tax. With the cost of fuel and other expenses rising, the added burden of a pay-per-mile tax could make long-distance travel over the holidays less appealing for many."

Amy Harker lives in Manchester with her 4-year-old son. She said: "As a single mother, every penny counts, and with rising living costs, adding an extra £60 just for driving home to see family makes it difficult to justify the trip. I’m now reconsidering our travel plans this year, as the tax alone could take away from gifts or other essentials for my son."

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For a family driving from London to Manchester (a 200-mile journey one way), the round trip would total 400 miles, according to data. Analysis shows with the pay-per-mile rate of 15p per mile, families could face an additional cost of £60 in tax for the journey.

For those travelling further, such as from London to Edinburgh (a 400-mile journey), the tax could increase to £120 for the round trip alone. Somebody doing a London to Manchester trip six times a year, so every two months, could face 2,400 mileage - working out at £360.

The average is 7,000 miles in the UK - and this could see motorists slapped with £1080 charges just for the pleasure of seeing in-laws and family members, or old friends and colleagues, at the other side of the UK. Thankfully, despite reports, the rollout of such a complex system, including the necessary infrastructure like number plate recognition, could take several years.