Call for VRT campaign

04/11/04: by Trish Whelan — A call for Irish motorists to get involved in the campaign against vehicle registration tax has been made by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry.

Cyril McHugh, Chief Executive of SIMI, said motorists are consistently subject to 'crippling costs' for the privilege of owning and driving a vehicle on Irish roads. 

"The Government impose a total tax take that adds up to a massive 70 percent to the pre-tax price of the average family car and in the past ten years motorists have contributed 30 billion in motor related taxes," he said.  "In 2003 for example, the total contribution to the Exchequer from all motor related sources was over 4 billion.”

Further proposals made by the SIMI for this year’s budget include a reduction of excise duty on fuel, the introduction of a VRT equalisation refund measure for used cars exported out of Ireland and the reduction in the severity of the BIK changes made in last year’s budget. 

McHugh called on Motorists to use the pre-budget period to contact their local TDs and Senators.