THE GOVERNMENT has proposed changes to the motor tax system which would require drivers to declare in advance if their cars will not be on the road.

The changes once again raise the question of whether the motor tax system is a fundamentally fair way of charging the public for the use of public roads – and whether it could be fairer to incorporate motor tax charges in the price of fuel.

Two government backbenchers have previously called for an examination of whether it would be fairer to put an extra levy on fuel but scrap the flat-rate motor tax instead. Both Eamonn Maloney (Lab) and Billy Timmins (FG) think a pay-per-use system would resolve the problem of motor tax evasion.

However, Michael Noonan has rejected the idea by saying it would end up adding 20c to the price of a litre of petrol or diesel – which would have a disproportionate impact on commercial users or those who travel a long distance to work.

Today we’re putting the idea to you. Would you support the abolition of motor tax, and instead make do with higher fuel costs?

