MSE News: Owners of VW emissions-scandal cars 'won't pay more road tax'

Former_MSE_Helen

Motorists won't have to pay more in road tax if their vehicles have been fitted with software used to cheat emissions tests...

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Owners of VW emissions-scandal cars 'won't pay more road tax'




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torbrex

But will the cars fail the MOT when the time is due?

marty2be2000

torbrex wrote: »

But will the cars fail the MOT when the time is due?

No, because emissions are not tested at all on a diesel only smoke output, NOx and CO2 emissions are completely ignored and not even measured. EU5 cars are already passing the diesel smoke test because they have been on the market since 2009.

bigjl

Only smoke output?

Are you sure?

I can't check my last MOT emissions sheet though as I no longer own a diesel.

My MOT bloke always checked emissions, I think due to the car being nearly new and fitted with a DPF he was curious the vehicle had to have 6monthly MOTs due to its usage as a Private Hire vehicle.

I always thought the visual smoke test was on cars older than 1980 or so?

Wish I had paid more attention to the emissions sheets now!

So when the probe is inserted it is measuring the density of smoke produced?

Johnmcl7

bigjl wrote: »

Only smoke output?

Are you sure?

I can't check my last MOT emissions sheet though as I no longer own a diesel.

My MOT bloke always checked emissions, I think due to the car being nearly new and fitted with a DPF he was curious the vehicle had to have 6monthly MOTs due to its usage as a Private Hire vehicle.

I always thought the visual smoke test was on cars older than 1980 or so?

Wish I had paid more attention to the emissions sheets now!

So when the probe is inserted it is measuring the density of smoke produced?

You can read the MOT emissions testing here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/348035/18th-edition-emissions-book-complete.pdf

The post above is correct, diesel emissions tests are extremely basic and they're not tested to either their EU spec or their VED band. There is talk that future MOT's will have more detailed emissions but nothing more than that yet and there's going to need to be a big change in the way cars are tested as right now it's likely most diesel cars would fail their certified limits due to the ridiculous difference between lab and real world testing.

The check for a DPF for example is purely a visual one, EU4 and EU5 cars can pass the emissions test without one as they don't test for particulates so as long as the DPF looks like it's there (it's common to simply gut the DPF and put the casing back), it's a pass.

It would make sense to check CO2 and adjust the VED band each year but that doesn't happen either, in fact the car can probably never actually reach the CO2 rating they are rated at for VED even brand new. From what I've seen of a few cars I've looked at VW, don't have noticeably lower CO2 emissions (actually slightly higher in the 1.6 class) so if VW were to be fined for higher CO2 than their VED was allocated at, many other cars would be in exactly the same boat.

John

rustyboy21

Ah, but they dont say they will not affect the BIK rates, that company car drivers pay out of their pay.

VW Passat is a very popular listing on the majority of co car lists and the 2.0tdi passat was a good offering, as it was a good car, with high spec and 3% lower BIK than a comparable model.

Lets see if they shaft the co car driver instead.

Johnmcl7

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Ah, but they dont say they will not affect the BIK rates, that company car drivers pay out of their pay.

VW Passat is a very popular listing on the majority of co car lists and the 2.0tdi passat was a good offering, as it was a good car, with high spec and 3% lower BIK than a comparable model.

Lets see if they shaft the co car driver instead.

Surely if they were cheating the CO2 figures they'd be getting a much bigger difference? Just looked up a Passat 2.0 TDI and a similar Mondeo and they're both in the same tax band with a slight difference in emissions.

John

stugra

MSE - will you be providing any advice on action which affected VW owners should be looking to take in search of compensation??

WellKnownSid

stugra wrote: »

MSE - will you be providing any advice on action which affected VW owners should be looking to take in search of compensation??

Are you talking about compensation for the families of the hundreds of people in Europe who have lost their lives due to the increased NOx in the atmosphere?

Statistically speaking, they won't actually be VW owners, so it would be good if VW owners were now supporting them, along with the relevant healthcare organisations and charities, at this difficult time.

peter12345678910

Air pollution in London is already making it the hottest city in the UK. The NHS is already in crisis.

Diesel cars are not tested due to false assumptions. Even if the tax is not altered, they may start checking in mot tests well at least certain diesel cars.

stugra

No WellKnownSid, I don't mean that, I mean compensation for ripping VW owners off that paid for low emission high mpg cars. Simples. Please don't come back to me with sob stories as I am not interested.