Sign the What Car? Fuel Tax Petition

What Car? has launched a petition calling for the Government to invest a huge tax windfall worth billions on improving Britain's road transport facilities.

Motorists are all too aware how much more it's costing to fill up their car at the pumps these days, but few might know how much the Government rakes in from VAT charges on fuel.

What Car? estimates that at June 2007 pump prices motorists handed over £19 million every day in VAT on fuel – the equivalent of more than £7 billion a year.

At June 2008 prices, the take from VAT on fuel is up to almost £25 million a day, a phenomenal £9 billion a year.

While businesses are able to reclaim VAT on fuel, private motorists are hit hard by the Government which also makes nearly £25 billion a year in fuel duty and billions more on North Sea oil taxation.

What Car? believes the massive VAT windfall should be put back into road transport, and is calling on the Government to ring-fence the cash for the benefit of motorists.

What Car? editor Steve Fowler said: “Every motorist would surely welcome billions of pounds more spending on transport.

"We’re all being hit hard by price squeezes, so some cash for motorists could help to take the edge off them."

What Car? is asking motorists to add their voice to the campaign by:

Signing up for our Downing Street petition at petitions.pm.gov.uk/VATbillions/ if you believe that the extra VAT cash raised from increased pump prices should be spent on motorists;
Participating with a quick online survey at whatcar.com and letting us know what you think about fuel prices and how they have increased;
Emailing your stories to whatcarpoll@haynet.com detailing how you have been hit by the rising cost of fuel.

Steve Fowler adds: "Readers are telling us that they just can’t afford to fill up their car.

"Many people rely on their cars to go about their daily lives, yet, worryingly, some are having to cut back on essential spending to fund their fuel costs.

"It seems unfair that the Government and fuel companies make so much money. Let’s see some of it reinvested for the good of the country."