Drivers’ protests against steep road taxes for cars between 20 and 39 years old have grown louder, as the UK Treasury issues a firm response to calls for a reduction. The debate over Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) has gained momentum, with concerns that high tax rates are forcing functional, environmentally friendly vehicles into the scrapheap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In recent weeks, a petition calling for a 50% reduction in VED for cars aged 20 to 39 years has gained significant traction, gathering over 39,000 signatures<\/strong>. The initiative argues that many cars from this era, often low-mileage and well-maintained, are being prematurely scrapped due to the rising tax burden. This trend, critics say, contradicts environmental goals and leads to a “disposable car culture.” With the petition nearing the threshold for parliamentary discussion, pressure is mounting on the government to act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The UK Treasury has firmly rejected proposals to reduce VED for cars between 20 and 39 years old. In a statement released on 23 February 2026<\/strong>, officials clarified that the government had “no plans” to change current tax liabilities for these vehicles. Although acknowledging the rising concerns, the Treasury added that it routinely reviews all tax policies, with any adjustments made during fiscal events. Currently, cars older than 40 years<\/strong> are exempt from VED, as they are classified as “classic” vehicles, a policy set to be extended to cars built before January 1986 starting in April 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the government’s firm stance, advocates of the tax reduction, including petition <\/a>organiser Heitor Mazzotti<\/strong>, continue to push for change. According to Mazzotti, the high taxes are forcing vehicles, some of which could be seen as modern classics, to be scrapped prematurely. He claims that keeping these cars on the road is more environmentally sound than producing new vehicles, as it preserves the embedded carbon already spent during manufacturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTreasury Responds to Growing Calls for VED Reduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Environmental and Economic Impact of High Car Taxes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n