'Reeling' drivers could face changes within weeks

Motorists could be facing some major tax rises, some of which may be for the better experts have claimed

Following Sir Keir Starmer’s warning that the upcoming Autumn Statement will be a “painful” budget announcement, many are expecting their pockets to tighten on October 30. However, for motorists this could be a good thing provided Labour stays away from one specific tax hike, experts have warned.

Data from Auto Express highlights that Brits are fed up with potholes, high fuel prices and car crime, with many respondents noting they would happily absorb a tax increase if it funded the solutions to these issues. Ahead of the statement, the outlet has written to Chancellor Rachel Reeves warning that uprating motoring tax would break Labour’s pledge not to raise the tax burden of working people while keeping their promise to fix roads across the country.

Experts predict a massive tax raid in the upcoming budget announcement due to the Chancellor’s continuous referral of the £22billion “black hole” that is the Conservatives’ financial legacy. Paul Barker, editor at Auto Express, has indicated she could be looking at targeting motorists by increasing fuel duty or Vehicle Excise Duty to plug this hole.

He warned the Chancellor against, noting that if she tries to use the “excuse” of green targets or to push drivers towards electric vehicles that the party could be “punished in future polls”. Instead, he laid out his recommendations for the government to focus on “increasing the threshold for the £410 'expensive car' tax on EVs, investing in road infrastructure, tackling the rising issue of car crime, and taking immediate action to fix the country's pothole-riddled roads”.

During her pre-election campaign, Labour Transport Secretary Louise Haigh had promised £8.3billion of funding would be funnelled into the UK’s pothole problem and the editor noted this is the ideal time for the government to fulfil this promise. When the subject of motorists inevitably comes up in the Autumn Statement, the editor declared potholes, high fuel prices and car crimes “should be dominating the government’s agenda”.

He cited the 130,000 cars stolen in the 12 months to March 2024 as well as the 118 cyclists that have died “as a direct result of potholes”. Barker concluded: “It’s time for the government to respond to drivers’ priorities. That means making significant investments in road infrastructure and ensuring effective police action against car crime, while staying true to their manifesto promise not to raise taxes on working people. This is not the moment to tighten the screws on drivers who are still reeling from the cost-of-living crisis and struggling to make ends meet.”