Petrol vs Diesel

anotheruser

I have a petrol, costs £185 a year to tax.  I also have a diesel, costs £30.

I was under the impression diesels had become cheaper to tax but it seems since 2017 the rules changed and many diesels pay £155 or so, while petrol equivalent's pay next to nothing.

But our (11 plate) diesel is also pretty nippy. My 56 plate Focus is not.

Just thinking of modern new thoughts (apart from environmental) on the old diesel vs petrol. 

neilmcl

anotheruser said:

I have a petrol, costs £185 a year to tax.  I also have a diesel, costs £30.

I was under the impression diesels had become cheaper to tax but it seems since 2017 the rules changed and many diesels pay £155 or so, while petrol equivalent's pay next to nothing.

But our (11 plate) diesel is also pretty nippy. My 56 plate Focus is not.

Just thinking of modern new thoughts (apart from environmental) on the old diesel vs petrol. 

You're under the wrong impression.

AdrianC

It's very simple.

40yo -> 2001 - tax by CC, breakpoint at 1550cc.
2001 -> 2017 - tax by CO2
2017 -> - flat rate

Homer_home

There's nothing modern nor new about it.....

Petrol if you only do mainly short distances
Diesel is you mainly do long distances

Grumpy_chap

To assess diesel versus petrol (or even versus EV), you need to start with the mileage you will be doing.  Total mileage and whether that mileage is mostly town or main road.

What you current cars are like for tax is really irrelevant as if you buy a new car, it is the tax of the new car that makes the difference.  Adrian has set that out, but don't forget brand new cars (other than zero emissions) above £40k attract a premium for 5 years and brand new cars attract the higher "first year" levy.

VED is probably not the best starting point for working out which car you want or fuel type.

Homer_home

Grumpy_chap said:

To assess diesel versus petrol (or even versus EV), you need to start with the mileage you will be doing.  Total mileage and whether that mileage is mostly town or main road.

What you current cars are like for tax is really irrelevant as if you buy a new car, it is the tax of the new car that makes the difference.  Adrian has set that out, but don't forget brand new cars (other than zero emissions) above £40k attract a premium for 5 years and brand new cars attract the higher "first year" levy.

VED is probably not the best starting point for working out which car you want or fuel type.

This is the long winded version of exactly what I said 

Ditzy_Mitzy

anotheruser said:

I have a petrol, costs £185 a year to tax.  I also have a diesel, costs £30.

I was under the impression diesels had become cheaper to tax but it seems since 2017 the rules changed and many diesels pay £155 or so, while petrol equivalent's pay next to nothing.

But our (11 plate) diesel is also pretty nippy. My 56 plate Focus is not.

Just thinking of modern new thoughts (apart from environmental) on the old diesel vs petrol. 

I think you're being a bit unfair to petrol.  Most petrol engines provide superior performance to the diesel equivalent, even in the case of the 2006 era Ford Focus.  Diesel always feels faster, because it produces a lot of torque in a narrow range, but in the real world is usually slower.  I've driven both types fairly extensively.  

anotheruser

neilmcl said:

anotheruser said:

I was under the impression diesels had become cheaper to tax but it seems since 2017 the rules changed and many diesels pay £155 or so, while petrol equivalent's pay next to nothing.

You're under the wrong impression.

Extremely helpful.

anotheruser

Grumpy_chap said:

VED is probably not the best starting point for working out which car you want or fuel type.

I don't plan on buying a new car.
Mase more difficult as I'm looking at a 2017 plate. Some say free tax, others say £155, hence confusion.
Tax is likely to be the biggest outgoing for that car (apart from the initial purchase of course).

I currently have a petrol but do a fair bit of motorway driving with it, hence the 166,000 miles it has on the clock and still going strong.

AdrianC

anotheruser said:

Mase more difficult as I'm looking at a 2017 plate. Some say free tax, others say £155, hence confusion.
Tax is likely to be the biggest outgoing for that car (apart from the initial purchase of course).

VED changed for cars registered on or after 1st April 2017. That was a month into 17 plates.
16/66 and before are all on the old scheme, CO2 banded.
67/18 and later are all on the new, flat-rate plus £40k list-price hike.
17 plate, you need to check the exact car you're looking at.

And, no, VED will not be the biggest outgoing. Tax is cheap. Even if it's a Band M/£40k+, £565/year vs £475 car.
Depreciation will almost certainly be the biggest outgoing. Insurance, maintenance, fuel will all be up there, too.

Scot22

After my last diesel, with dpf etc  I would never buy another.  Average mileage so thought potential fuel saving but smashed by cost of maintenance.