New Tax In Vic For Electric Cars

[d2dave]

Just heard on the wireless the other day that as of the 1st of July Victoria's new tax for electric cars starts.

Apparently owners are to receive a letter asking for a photo of your odometer. Another photo again when rego is due and then a tax for KM's travelled.

So not only are you being taxed you have to help them do it. It would be like you having to read your electricity meter for the power company(Pre smart meters when we did have meter readers come to our home)

It would be interesting to see what would happen if the odometer became faulty, as there is no law requiring a working odometer in cars.

Greedy governments at it again.:thumbsdown:

[pop058]

Was this announced on the 1st of July or the 1st of April ??

FYI

171988

[Homestar]

It has just come into effect but was announced a few months ago. We’re really forward thinking in this state huh…. [emoji17]

[d2dave]

FYI

171988

As stated above, a fully functional speedo is required. An odometer is not a speedo.

[p38arover]

I'm in favour of it.

In NSW, the annual rego check grabs the odo reading - but annual checks aren't required for the first 5 years.

Why shouldn't EVs help pay for road upkeep. They are often offered free battery charging and their own parking spaces.

[d2dave]

Ron, the main issue here is that tax on EV's is supposed to replace lost petrol excise.

Petrol excise is collected by the feds. This is a state based tax.

There is also another unfair anomaly. If you live in Albury NSW you don't pay this tax but could work in say Wangaratta so most of you driving is in Vic.

And the reverse can happen to someone living in Wodonga who might work in Albury or somewhere further Nth.

Another unfair component. Hybrids also attract this tax, so when the batteries run out and it goes to fuel, you are paying fuel excise and EV tax.

I also read where a small very fuel efficient petrol/diesel car that uses less than around 4.5 litres per 100km, would pay less fuel excise than EV tax.

[Tombie]

As stated above, a fully functional speedo is required. An odometer is not a speedo.

Correct. However, rules also state if fitted must be operational. Applies to any gadget on a car.

[scarry]

It has just come into effect but was announced a few months ago. We’re really forward thinking in this state huh…. [emoji17]

I doubt they could be any worse than this mob up here,no doubt they will follow on with this as well.

I agree with it ,as those with EV's are getting a free ride.

But the State verses Federal tax needs to be sorted.

Fuel excise was going to change to a user pay system as well,but they hadnt worked out a way to do it.

[d2dave]

Correct. However, rules also state if fitted must be operational. Applies to any gadget on a car.

Not always the case. One example I know of in Victoria. If a vehicle has a means of external ventilation other than through open windows, which all modern cars do,
there is no requirement that the windows have to work.

I have so far been unable to find anything, but I do remember reading somewhere(and it wasn't FB) that an odometer does not have to work in a car.

It does in a truck as we have to record readings in our log book.

[goingbush]

I got the following letter from VicRoads , not redacted in any way.

As you all know the vehicle in question is 100% EV , & not a conventional hybrid . Ive informed VicRoads of their mistake & error in their record keeping and the fact that my LandRover is 100% EV along with the VASS compliance number & they replied explaining that hybrids are no longer eligible for $100 green incentive.

Sent them another more succinct email, awaiting reply .



I am writing to you as a current registered owner of a conventional hybrid to let you know the Government will conclude the $100 annual registration discount for conventional hybrid vehicles from 1 July 2021.

You do not need to do anything as a result of this change. It just means that at your next registration renewal for vehicle 88VOLT, your registration charge will revert to the standard light vehicle registration charge. This will also be detailed on your next registration renewal notice. Because your vehicle is a conventional hybrid vehicle, a new road user charge applying to electric and hydrogen vehicles and to plug-in hybrid vehicles from 1 July will not apply to your vehicle.

This change has occurred as part of the Victorian Governments path to net zero emissions by 2050. With the increased availability of electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, the Government is realigning financial incentives to ensure they support the uptake of vehicles powered predominantly by environmentally friendly alternatives to fuel.

For more information please visit the VicRoads (https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/zlev-road-user-charge) website.

Yours sincerely

Director, Customer Services

[goingbush]

As stated above, a fully functional speedo is required. An odometer is not a speedo.

I have a GPS speedo in my Landy and my 49 Dodge , they both went through RWC and VASS inspection .
they are user programmable , I can adjust the odometer to whatever reading I want to, not that I would.

Even with a conventional speedo anyone can photoshop the reading they send to VicRoads.

[101RRS]

I have a GPS speedo in my Landy and my 49 Dodge , they both went through RWC and VASS inspection .
they are user programmable , I can adjust the odometer to whatever reading I want to, not that I would.

Even with a conventional speedo anyone can photoshop the reading they send to VicRoads.

And of course having a GPS speedo and falsifying documents are both illegal - you might get away with it but I am sure random checks of information will be introduced.

[goingbush]

And of course having a GPS speedo and falsifying documents are both illegal - you might get away with it but I am sure random checks of information will be introduced.

How can a random check pick it up. GPS speedo clearly not illegal as my car went through VicRoads inspection with one. Not that I would falsify records , just saying its easy to do. Its actually cheaper for me to pay the RUC than the extra $100 rego. Its also cheaper for me to go on Club Rego but I don't, so why sell my soul for a few dollars.


Also random checks / roadside emissions checks are possible to check for blocked EGR / removed DPF . But its not going to happen unless the Govt gets serious about cleaning up the environment. Again have had vehicles pass RWC & go through rego with removed EGR .

[scarry]

So the rate is 2.5cents a kilometre,that is until they increase it in the near future,or make commercial vehicles pay more,as they did with Tolls.

So if your petrol or diesel ICE does around 10l/100 km,you will be paying around double the new EV tax,in fuel excise.

So the EV driver gets out of it pretty lightly.

If the EV driver tows or runs around loaded,tax is the same,for the ICE operator,the fuel excise increases dramatically.

It will be interesting to see where all this ends up in 5 yrs time.

[NavyDiver]

So the rate is 2.5cents a kilometre,that is until they increase it in the near future,or make commercial vehicles pay more,as they did with Tolls.

So if your petrol or diesel ICE does around 10l/100 km,you will be paying around double the new EV tax,in fuel excise.

So the EV driver gets out of it pretty lightly.

If the EV driver tows or runs around loaded,tax is the same,for the ICE operator,the fuel excise increases dramatically.

It will be interesting to see where all this ends up in 5 yrs time.

2.5 c per km is $2.5 per hundred km traveled. Did a calculation in the EV thread for the cost of fuel over 40,000 km for a EV driving instructor. "The current rate is 42.7 cents in excise for every litre of fuel purchased. This rate is adjusted from time to time in line with inflation and is in addition to the GST." Link (https://www.aaa.asn.au/fuel-excise-explained/)

using that number he/we also save $42.7 in fuel tax every hundred km traveled. I'll happily take the $2.5 per 100km tax[biggrin]

[Graeme]

42.7 cents x 10 is $4.27.

[Tins]

Simples. Give EVs a log book...[bigwhistle]

Seriously though, this is another example of why, IMO, car rego ( and road rules ) should really be a matter for the Feds.

[350RRC]

What's full excise on lpg now ........15 cents per litre?

Costs me about 3 cents per km. I have lots of other ways of spending money faster than that and some of it doesn't have fun involved. [biggrin]

DL

[scarry]

What's full excise on lpg now ........15 cents per litre?

Costs me about 3 cents per km. I have lots of other ways of spending money faster than that and some of it doesn't have fun involved. [biggrin]

DL

But its gradually disapearing from Service stations.
They are also pricing it much higher than it should be at many places.

[350RRC]

But its gradually disapearing from Service stations.
They are also pricing it much higher than it should be at many places.

Still a fair price at many servos down here. A joke at others.

The cost of servo lpg tank inspections has gone way up. Excise on lpg introduced. Price of diesel and petrol dropped 10 years ago to a level that made lpg a non economic conversion, especially with some cars getting 5l/100km on petrol or diesel.

The feds have a bit of responsibility to keep it all reasonable and sensible because they actively encouraged people to convert to lpg with grants.

Any big increase in the crude price will see servos putting the tanks back in.

DL

[scarry]

The feds have a bit of responsibility to keep it all reasonable and sensible because they actively encouraged people to convert to lpg with grants.

Any big increase in the crude price will see servos putting the tanks back in.

DL

Feds dont give a rats,it was some other Govt that did that,they would say.

The tanks will never go back,there just isnt the demand,and it doesnt suit many modern vehicles.

Taxis were the big market,they dropped off over 10 yrs ago.

[350RRC]

Feds dont give a rats,it was some other Govt that did that,they would say.

The tanks will never go back,there just isnt the demand,and it doesnt suit many modern vehicles.

Taxis were the big market,they dropped off over 10 yrs ago.

The factory Ford and Holden lpg cars are insanely good value. A mate has a Holden, utterly immaculate, that was offered to me by the PO for 5k, vapour injection, dual map stock.

I didn't want it coz it is red, kinda kicking myself over that now. It is soooo cheap to drive and has all the poke of the petrol version.

DL

[Azza_LR3]

Just heard on the wireless the other day that as of the 1st of July Victoria's new tax for electric cars starts.

Apparently owners are to receive a letter asking for a photo of your odometer. Another photo again when rego is due and then a tax for KM's travelled.

So not only are you being taxed you have to help them do it. It would be like you having to read your electricity meter for the power company(Pre smart meters when we did have meter readers come to our home)

It would be interesting to see what would happen if the odometer became faulty, as there is no law requiring a working odometer in cars.

Greedy governments at it again.:thumbsdown:

Victorian Government are a joke. I would send them a fudged one, plus id be sure there is a law somewhere to prevent this..

[Homestar]

And to ask for a payment of the tax once a year at rego time is appalling - putting the onus on the owner to correctly calculate the tax as they drive and have the money saved for it.

[Tombie]

The factory Ford and Holden lpg cars are insanely good value. A mate has a Holden, utterly immaculate, that was offered to me by the PO for 5k, vapour injection, dual map stock.

I didn't want it coz it is red, kinda kicking myself over that now. It is soooo cheap to drive and has all the poke of the petrol version.

DL

Problem would be over here getting fuel for it is like trying to find a charging point for a Tesla!

[scarry]

Problem would be over here getting fuel for it is like trying to find a charging point for a Tesla!



Yes,thats a good point as well,it was only ever well priced and easily found in the city.
In regional areas it was rediculously priced and difficult to find.

[350RRC]

And to ask for a payment of the tax once a year at rego time is appalling - putting the onus on the owner to correctly calculate the tax as they drive and have the money saved for it.

A fair bit of time ago I sat on the first rock lobster management plan steering committee in a certain jurisdiction.

There were 2 people from 'policy' in the department on that committee, fresh out of uni and they just sat there and didn't say much.

Over about 15 years the number of policy people in the fisheries department grew to 28....... about 1 for every 4 commercial license holders (not licenses).

I met some of these 28, who were full of all sorts of 'fresh ideas' and they had no idea of reality. They also thought they knew more than me.

I even got paid at one stage to have a sit down so the department could get some sort of record together about why every management decision was made and in what context over the last 27 years.

Last man standing with 'corporate memory'. Still goes on.

The point I'm trying to get across is that these days these policy recommendations are made by people with very little real world experience, can't think outside of one dimension (space or time) coz they've never had to, and they have to comply with what they think the gov wants.

Result: a rego system for EV's that will **** all the owners off and result in some owners looking to cheat, etc.There's always a way.

DL

[scarry]

The point I'm trying to get across is that these days these policy recommendations are made by people with very little real world experience, can't think outside of one dimension (space or time) coz they've never had to, and they have to comply with what they think the gov wants.

DL

They either do that, or wait around and copy what is being done in another country,or State.

[350RRC]

They either do that, or wait around and copy what is being done in another country,or State.

That's kinda funny because one of the 2 policy people I mentioned in the previous post rose through the ranks and I would count as a friend, even though there's been no contact for a couple of years.

He would ring to find out why this or that was so, and I'd tell him.

There was a bit of an issue with the rec lobster catch in a certain area and single use tags were really the only way out.

We talked about it and he said that sort of approach doesn't happen anywhere else in the world, asked me to find examples.

I didn't have to go past the US, where high value species like tarpon (correct spelling.... not what Prince Charles fished for) where the recs had a limit of 2 tags that used to cost $50 each and there was a limit on tags, etc,etc. Heaps of examples that also included weekly and annual log books even for lesser species.

Even in WA I'm pretty sure they use a fixed number of tags to cap the rec schnapper fishery in Shark Bay.

He went nowhere with this approach because the government hadn't made a policy decision on capping rec catches of any species. More votes with the recs, etc, which had started years ago under a different government.

So they don't always do what has been done for decades overseas coz policy can be too far behind at times and just toeing perceived gov interest.

Some years later the gov did do the tag thing for rec lobsters, with no cap on the number of tags (??).

The leader of a prominent rec group got on faceplant and told all and sundry how to cheat on some aspects of this (utterly 'legendary'), which supports my comment about cheating in the last post.

DL