Mike Brewer, the host of Wheeler Dealers, has thrown his support behind a significant proposal for a car tax change that stands to benefit numerous British drivers. The endorsement comes as a new petition gains momentum, accumulating thousands of signatures.
The petition, seeking to lower the classic car threshold to 20 years old, has garnered over 7,000 signatures. The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on many motorists by advocating for a modification in the road tax regulations applicable to classic cars.
Specifically, the petition calls on Parliament to decrease the vehicle excise duty (VED) for cars aged between 20 and 40 years. Clair Knight, the individual behind the proposal, emphasised the importance of preserving well-loved modern classics within this age bracket. Knight expressed concern that without a tax reduction, these vehicles might vanish from the roads.
In a recent interview with Classic Car Weekly, Mike Brewer, a prominent classic car enthusiast and television personality, voiced his support for the campaign. He emphasised that vehicles over 20 years old have “paid their dues” and argued for a shift in perception when a car transitions from being a drain on the state to contributing positively.
Brewer stated, “I believe that after 20 years, the car starts to become a drain on its owner to keep it roadworthy, therefore supporting industries like mechanics, repair shops, restoration, fabrication, and engineering and thereby contributing massively to the country.”
Currently, a car attains “historic vehicle” status if it was first registered more than 40 years ago on a rolling basis. The DVLA estimated that there were 338,000 such vehicles in the UK at the end of 2023, with potentially hundreds of thousands more aged over 20 years.
The petition is now more than two-thirds of the way to the 10,000 signature threshold needed to prompt a government response. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, Parliament will be obliged to debate the proposed measure.
Click the link to sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/654884/
