New car tax changes will hike up charges for petrol and diesel drivers this year.
The tax rates will come into effect this spring as drivers of the most polluting vehicles are set to pay more.
Motorists will also be impacted by an increase in road tax, also known as Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), along with changes to the Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax.
VED charges are set to increase for cars of almost all emission ranges, The Express reports.
A major change in Scotland this year is the introduction of Low Emission Zones in parts of the country, creating further fees for some road users.
Here are the changes affecting drivers in 2022.
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)
VED, often called road tax, is rising with the retail prices index measure of inflation in April.
Vehicles that emit zero grams per kilometre of CO2 are expected to continue paying zero, while petrol- and most diesel-powered drivers (including hybrids) that emit between 1g and 50g per kilometre will pay £10 for the first 12 months.
Cars that emit between 51g and 5g per kilometre currently pay £25 for the first year.
Cars that emit between 76g and 150g per kilometre of CO2 saw their VED rates rise by £5 this year - to £220.
The more CO2 a car emits per kilometre, the more you are likely to pay next year.
The worst affected are usually cars that emit more than 255g per kilometre of CO2 - these currently set you back £2,245 a year in tax - it then rises each April.
You can find out how much you're currently paying here.
The standard rate - the amount you pay after the second year - for cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 is currently £155 a year for anything other than zero-emissions vehicles.
HM Revenue and Customs said the update would "impact motorists owning a car, van or motorcycle".
It said the increase in VED rates was in-line with RPI meaning rates will "remain unchanged in real terms for vehicle owners".
Benefit in Kind
Rates for those hiring a car under a salary sacrifice scheme are also set for new charges in 2022.
BiK rates will rise from one to two percent for fully electric cars and those producing between one and 50g/km of pollution with an electric range of more than 130 miles.
Prices will also increase by one percent for all other models regardless of pollution levels.
However, vehicles that produce 156 to 169g per km or over 170g per km will see no changes with fees remaining at 37 percent.
Low Emission Zones
The Scottish Government and Transport Scotland are set to create Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in 2022.
The programme was paused due to the pandemic, but is set to be rolled out this year.
LEZs will be introduced in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen between February and May.
In these zones an environmental limit will be imposed on certain road spaces where only the 'cleanest' vehicles will be permitted.
The first LEZ was introduced in Glasgow in 2018 and only applied to buses.
Find the designated LEZs in your area on the Low Emissions Zones website here.
Entry into LEZs is based on Euro emission engine classification standards. The confirmed minimum criteria is:
- Euro 4 for petrol cars and vans (generally vehicles registered from 2006*)
- Euro 6 for diesel cars and vans (generally vehicles registered from September 2015*)
- Euro VI for buses, coaches and HGVs (generally vehicles registered from January 2013*)
- Mopeds and motorcycles are out with the scope of the current LEZ for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen
Regarding the scheme, Transport Scotland said: "Low emission zones set an environmental limit on certain road spaces, allowing access to only the cleanest vehicles and can help to transform towns and cities into cleaner, healthier places to live, work and visit.
"The development of these zones are one part of a range of actions that will help make our transport system cleaner, greener and healthier."
