Millions of drivers warned that car tax changes would hit them hardest

Proposals to radically overhaul car tax could hit a particular group of drivers hardest, it has been warned. Motorists living in rural areas will feel the pinch most under proposed changes to the per-kilometre car tax, according to financial experts.

So if you’re in rural Staffordshire or Warwickshire, you have more to fear than those in central Birmingham – where a Clean Air Zone has already been established. Tax expert Bradley Post, Managing Director at RIFT, has expressed concern that those who “do a lot of mileage” will bear the brunt of any updates to car tax.

Data shows that rural drivers typically travel almost twice as much distance as urban drivers, putting them at a disadvantage due to the road toll hanging over their heads.

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Post warned of the “level of negativity” the introduction of such a system could cause, especially among electric vehicle owners and those who rely on long-distance travel.

Small businesses and long-distance commuters are also likely to be at a disadvantage if road pricing is introduced, the Express reports.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Bradley said: “There’s certainly going to be some negativity with any major change and the changes to the pay-per-mile car tax system are no exception.”

He added: “First of all, people who travel a lot of miles, especially those with small businesses, are hit the hardest.”

In addition, “people who live in rural areas and are more dependent on cars will also be hit harder.”

The National Transport Survey, as reported by Countryside Alliance, previously found that there is a big difference in car use between rural and urban residents. Rural drivers travel an average of 5,880 kilometres per year.

In stark contrast, people in more rural areas travel around 5,767 miles a year, around 60 per cent more than city dwellers. The Resolution Foundation has previously proposed a 6p per mile charge on electric vehicle users to offset the loss of revenue from fuel duty.

The suggestions follow comments from a Department for Transport official who appeared to encourage the government to introduce a pay-per-mile scheme. In a series of posts on social media, they suggested that electric vehicle owners should be required to pay per mile to ensure motorists “continue to pay their fair share” for using the road.

Further suggesting that the costs could vary, costing less on empty roads and more during rush hour. Such an implementation could have a significant impact on commuters, as roads are generally busier when people are returning from work.