Car tax hike remains a mystery
The overwhelming majority of motorists aren't aware of the dramatic changes to the cost of taxing vehicles which will see a million people's bills more than double, research has found.
From 2009, graded vehicle excise duty bands will be based on a vehicle's emissions, but the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) study found 84% of motorists don't know which tax band their vehicle will be in.
The rising cost of motoring has made finding a cheaper car insurance deal and driving a greener car two of the few areas where savings are possible.
"The new system aims to encourage drivers to choose the least polluting car," said Andrew Davis, director at the ETA, "but millions of drivers will get a shock as tax bills land on doorsteps next April.
"The spiralling cost of motoring means people need to check now how much they will pay."
Anyone wanting to check their vehicle's emissions can visit the ETA website which features a free online directory of the environmental performance of more than 1,300 cars.
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