Drivers of leased cars who choose for a fuel efficient car, will pay less. Not only in gas, but also for leasing it. Polluting cars will be more expensive in lease price, says Jan Kees de Jager (picture); State Secretary For Finance.

The House of Commons still has to decide what to do with these plans, since they are part of the tax plans for 2008, but it might just happen. The added tax for cars as the Citroën C1, Peugeot 107 and bigger hybrid cars as the Honda Civic and the Toyota Prius will be reduced by approximately 40 percent. The 22 percent tax on the purchase price of the cars will be reduced to 12 to 14 percent, says the State Secretary. This could mean that the monthly cost of the car could be reduced with 50%.

Besides this, new taxes will be raised over the cost price of very polluting cars as the Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV’s). This will add hundreds of millions of Euros’ to the governments’ treasure. 

This government period, the kilometer levy will be introduced. Jan Kees de Jager will lower the purchasing tax with 5 to 10 percent and the road tax will be raised by an equal percentage. The Tax and Customs Administration office, already let him know that they will be able to carry out this measure. This is important, since they’ve had a few problems in the previous period to carry out all the changes in law.

Besides the measure described above, the government also decided that local authorities can decide themselves if owners of polluting cars have to pay more to park their car. So it could be that a person with a SUV pays twice as much parking toll than a person who owns a Citroën C1. 

Taking all of this into account, buying or leasing an environment friendly car could not only save the environment, but also your money. On the other hand, a lower lease price means you could lease a bigger car that logically is more polluting. I wonder how this dilemma will influence the choice.....

As I already have a pretty economic leased car, I am curious what these changes mean for me personally.I can’t take anymore advantage of a reduced lease price and all my parking bills are paid for me.

Besides the leased car, we have a car of our own. Perhaps I should consider a personal lease ;)