Thousands of families are facing a surprise tax hike after Chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed that cars up to seven years old would be subject to new road duties. Find out how it will affect you.
It was thought vehicles up to seven years old would be exempt from the shake-up, designed to penalise high emissions.
But now it has emerged their owners will have to pay the new road duties after all.
A Treasury spokeswoman denied the move had been slipped through "on the quiet".
But she did admit it had not been "explicitly spelt out" in last month's Budget.
News of the levy is likely to provoke fury among motorists who have already been hit by soaring fuel costs.
There will be 13 bands in the new road tax system based on a vehicle's carbon emissions. New cars will also be subject to a so-called "showroom rate".
The changes, which will be staggered from next April, will raise an estimated £1.2bn in extra revenue by March 2011.
Critics say owners of vehicles that emit more than 225g of carbon dioxide per kilometre will eventually £430 in duty, compared to £210 this year.
These will include some Renault Espace and Vauxhall Zafira models.
Medium-sized cars that emit more than 180g/km - including some Ford Mondeo models - could see increases of up to £100, it is claimed.
Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said: "The Government is penalising hard-pressed families who have been running the same car for many years."
A Treasury spokeswoman said nearly half of new car buyers and a third of existing owners would be better off next year.
Click here to find out how the charges will affect you.
Channel Five New,s
It was thought vehicles up to seven years old would be exempt from the shake-up, designed to penalise high emissions.
But now it has emerged their owners will have to pay the new road duties after all.
A Treasury spokeswoman denied the move had been slipped through "on the quiet".
But she did admit it had not been "explicitly spelt out" in last month's Budget.
News of the levy is likely to provoke fury among motorists who have already been hit by soaring fuel costs.
There will be 13 bands in the new road tax system based on a vehicle's carbon emissions. New cars will also be subject to a so-called "showroom rate".
The changes, which will be staggered from next April, will raise an estimated £1.2bn in extra revenue by March 2011.
Critics say owners of vehicles that emit more than 225g of carbon dioxide per kilometre will eventually £430 in duty, compared to £210 this year.
These will include some Renault Espace and Vauxhall Zafira models.
Medium-sized cars that emit more than 180g/km - including some Ford Mondeo models - could see increases of up to £100, it is claimed.
Paul Watters, head of roads policy at the AA, said: "The Government is penalising hard-pressed families who have been running the same car for many years."
A Treasury spokeswoman said nearly half of new car buyers and a third of existing owners would be better off next year.
Click here to find out how the charges will affect you.
Channel Five New,s
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