The UK government is to tax seatbelts in new cars from 2023

Seatbelts to be taxed from 2023

Seatbelts - Credit Aleksey Korchemkin Shutterstock.com

According to a satirical report by Top Gear, seatbelts are to be taxed from 2023 following an announcement by the chancellor during his autumn statement.

The satirical report by the motoring magazine on Tuesday, November 22 claimed that all new cars sold with seatbelts will include an additional tax.

According to ‘TopGear.com’s roving correspondent, Cory Spondent’, new cars have been exempt from taxes on life-saving and fundamental safety technology, but treasury officials pointed out that they will always need to get from one place to another, so it made no sense to have a temporary waiver.

‘Cory Spondent’ joked that the change comes as part of the government’s decision to plan for the future by removing the road tax exemption on electric cars and in doing so Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said it would be ‘fairer’ if motorists began paying for their continual safety on an annual basis.

“Because forecasts point to consumers needing to travel safely from A to B and arrive unharmed in the decades to come, I’ve decided that any car fitted with a seatbelt will be subject to an additional levy.”

The satire piece claimed that motoring and other pressure groups criticised the change saying it was setting a dangerous precedent and that in doing so they asked what the government would find to tax next in a year when the cost-of-living crisis has bitten, and the tax burden has jumped.

Whilst the seatbelt tax is satire, making sure your car is safe and your MOT is up to date is not a joke. You can get affordable MOTs and car services with F1 autocentres voucher codes and keep your car in top condition.

A tongue-in-cheek comment from one organisation said: “Next they’ll be charging motorists a subscription for heated seats that have already been fitted to the car.”

People responded to the convincing piece from ‘Cory Spondent’, with one writing: “Is it April the 1st?”

While another said: “Is this a Babylon Bee or Onion story?”


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Written by

Peter McLaren-Kennedy

Originally from South Africa, Peter is based on the Costa Blanca and is a web reporter for the Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com.

Comments


    • Naimah Yianni

      22 November 2022 • 12:13

      Never heard anything so ridiculous. next they will tax us for farting

    • Kathy B

      22 November 2022 • 13:55

      Ummmm, this was clearly labelled “satire” on Top Gear’s website and you are presenting it as news? Worrying, as some people will actually believe this….

    • Cody T.

      22 November 2022 • 16:00

      Satire.

    • Richard gall

      23 November 2022 • 13:40

      when does the breathing tax come in they will be a fresh air tax next

    • Dr Trth

      23 November 2022 • 14:24

      The UK Parliament and its cronies are behaving like Fawlty Towers the British look stupid globally bad enough the country is being invaded every day via Kent. UK is a shamble and the British public are too scared to protest.

    Comments are closed.