No cars over 10 years old on the roads.
By katerina
@thea09 (18305)
Greece
September 29, 2009 1:06am CST
I heard about this new law the govenment is thinking of introducing last night. If it goes through (they are predicting within 1 - 2 years) then any car over 10 years old will have to pay doublethe car tax. Just great. I believe my car is currently aged 9.
On the bright side we can get a voucher worth 1000 euros if the car is scrapped, towards a car which is short of its 10th birthday.
So what do you think about this new law?
7 people like this
25 responses
@Iriene88 (5343)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 09
Dear Thea,
I think 1000 Euros will help to pay for the deposit to buy a new car.
In Malaysia, recently the Government launched a policy whereby any old
cars can be trade in to purchase a brand new Malaysia national car.
So, if an old car worth only RM800, it still can trade in for RM5000
as deposit to purchase a new Perodua or Proton cars. But no cash will
be given, only for trade in for the new National car.
By doing this, the Government can reduce the problems of pollution
arises from old cars, and at the same time promoting the Sale of its
national cars.
2 people like this
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@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi Iriene, you make it all sound good there but where does the extra 4200 RM come from when the original car still goes. And I certainly wouldn't want anyone telling me which car I had to drive, that is decided by my parking needs so has to be very small to get into those little gaps.
I have noticed that Malyasians don't tend to criticise their government so maybe they aren't as corrupt as the other ones, but it's rare in the west to hear anyone praising a government idea.
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1 person likes this
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 09
Hi Thea,
I am a Malaysian too. If I am not mistaken, the
difference of RM4200 will be absorbed by this two
local car producer ie. Perodua and Proton. That
is the reason, this RM5000 is only can be used to
offset for purchasing of new national cars from this
2 companies. I believe this 2 companies will get some
incentives or subsidies from the Government for this
special promotion.
In Malaysia, those bloggers who criticising the Government
can be traced and .........
Cheers and take care
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@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
29 Sep 09
We dont have that law yet but the recent cash for clunkers makes it appear we will be going that way soon. I think this totally SUCKS! I personally love several cars from bygone eras such as the 69 camaro, 76 gran prix and the 69 Dodge Charger! Besides some people still like the convenience of actually being able to work on their own vehicles without dealing with the fancy electronics and computer software newer cars have.
I hate the idea.
2 people like this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi shewolf, I know its not a lot of response but it really seems people don't like these new laws which seem to be coming in everywhere. The whole thing is a joke except to the rich who can afford a new car. Our law would not ban old cars just tax them out of existence. I agree with the electronic part as well, mine has a locking system where one key is meant to open 4 doors and it is currently having problems but because it is electronic the repair cost is ridiculous so I end up driving round without being able to open 2 doors from the inside and completely unable to open the boot.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
29 Sep 09
Sounds like a bunch of b/s to me. I think that is discrimanation. I don't intend to ever buy another car. THE ONE I HAVE SHOULD LAST ME THE REST OF MY LIFE. i SURE CAN'T AFFORD A CAR PAYMENT & I SURE DON'T WANT ONE.
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@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi Aunty, well I'm not best pleased by it at all I can tell you. My car may be in need of some expensive repairs at the moment which are on hold but it still gets me around fine and I like it. Also when I bought it second hand from someone who gave me a stupid price once I'd got him inebriated it was only 3 years old and the newest car I'd ever owned. It is now 9 so in one year I will fall under this new law which is stupid. If I can't afford to repair the one I have how am I supposed to buy a new one, and a double car tax whammy will be awful as it already went up by 40% last November which is a huge increase. But the rich ones who can afford new cars will pay the same in taxes and no doubt scrapping perfectly good cars so they can upgrade to the latest model.
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@lelin1123 (15594)
• Puerto Rico
29 Sep 09
I think its ridiulous. What if people don't have the money to buy a new car?
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi lelin, well if people don't have the money to buy a new car they will have to pay double the car tax, and serve us right. This will indeed be my dilemna, not only can I not afford a new car I can't afford the repairs on the one I already have, and would struggle twice as much to come up with double the car tax.
I freely admit that the reason I joined mylot initially was to make enought to pay the annual car tax bill which after 5 years of not increasing in cost shot up a whopping 40% last November.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Well I'm sick of it too so that makes two of us. What really got me on this one though is that the people who can afford to buy a new car, and probably a brand new one at that, don't have to pay anymore taxes, whilst they probably use the roads more often as less chance of breaking down on the top of a mountain.
@lelin1123 (15594)
• Puerto Rico
29 Sep 09
I'm so sick of being taxed for this and taxed for that. The taxes are out of control for everyone and everything. Where do they think people are going to get the money from especially with the economy the way it is. With people losing their jobs left and right. Its all out of control and I'm sick of it.
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@sunny68 (1327)
• India
29 Sep 09
here also a similar law has been effected in the national capital region, but it is for commercial vehicles only. that makes sense as they can adjust their profits and plan for a new one. but i don't think this is feasible for private vehicles. for a developing country like India a car is a lifetime investment. and replacing them every ten years may not be possible (some car loans last for 15 years). i think governments should first deal with industrial pollution rather than imposing on ordinary people.
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@sunny68 (1327)
• India
30 Sep 09
sometimes i feel that Governments start such things just to 'show' that they are responding to the environmental concerns without actually bothering to study the impact of the laws they pass. for example vehicles that were banned in certain regions were shifted to other regions where they operate. we have a popular phrase here - there is always a way to bend the rules -....
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@malpoa (1214)
• India
29 Sep 09
It is a good thing to do so. Not only will the place be free of pollution, car makers will boost your economy and the better the car the better the service. Here only recently this law was instructed by the court, but such corrupted is our system that government is helping people to keep old vehicles on road!!! So sad...Our pollution level is unimaginable...i think you have struck a good deal, go ahead.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi Malpoa, I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one. Look at us both for goodness sake, living in the two countries which seem to be the most corrupt for bribery. These laws will just be a joke, as you've already discovered within your new system. All they are doing here is rewarding the rich who can afford to replace their cars and making those of us who can't afford to replace our cars subject to higher taxation.
The difference is though that apart from in Athens there isn't a pollution problem over here, except from the smell of the communal bins when the dustbin men go off on their regual strikes.
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@malpoa (1214)
• India
29 Sep 09
But there your government is introducing the rule right? Here it was the court out of compulsion and public pressure. Here most of the driver are in a party based union and the same party is in power, so they will never let down their supposrters in fear of losing the elections next time. They keep on asking for a later date to the court!!! Here the car companies are offering a discount for a new car and also giving more price for the old car. So the deal is good here..But why increase tax there? It doesnt make sense, only to earn more revenue...People on chairs are very shrewd I must say!!!
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@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
30 Sep 09
Personally I hope you guys do not incorporate something like this just so the US will want to follow suit. Who really can keep on affording to go and get a newer car, and afford the payments all of the time? Especially with Medical costs continuing to rise, people loosing jobs, and forclosures increasing all the time as well. I really think sometimes when people think of doing things like this, they are only thinking of themselves and not everyone else around them.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
30 Sep 09
Hi KrauseHome, I can't believe for one minute that this was some idea thought up by the Greek govenment and I'm definitely leaning mpre to it being some ridiculous new EU directive which we'll get a massive fine for if it isn't implemented. There are more old bangers on the roads here than new cars and I don't think Greece makes cars of its own so maybe some bigwig in the EU has shares in some Japanese car manufacturer or something. Also this is not a nation that lives on credit, its a cash society, even for a new car so it's a doubly stupid move as people who aren't used to credit will have to start using it.
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@Capsicum (1444)
• United States
29 Sep 09
It stinks,I think they should replace it if they want this! Mine would go for sure its 11 years old. I would miss it,its my favorite car!But that's the government for ya!So they are telling you you must take a car payment on ?Wether you can afford it or not huh? I see it coming here to but ,What if we cannot afford the payment
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@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi Capsi it does indeed stink. My first thought on hearing it was that I'd invest a few hundred when I have chance, in an old banger, as there are plenty around, then immediately get it scrapped for the 1000 euros, which would then pay for the two repairs I need on mine which total 800 euros, which I can still drive with but really need sorting. And with the change I could pay this years car tax.
But no such luck, the 1000 euros is a voucher which can only be a one off, and only to purchase a car, new or resale, which has a value over a set figure yet to be determined. However as I think the cheapest new car here is about 8000, and we do not have depreciation on cars at all, that means when one uses the voucher there is an additional 7000 euros to find. Completely ridiculous.
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@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
30 Sep 09
my state kind of has something like this.
it's a "high pollutant" law.cars over a certain age are considered less clean air friendly.
..but by the same token,cars over 20 years old are considered "classic",and less registration fees per year.so i guess in an odd way it balances for now.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
30 Sep 09
Hi scarlet_woman, I know what you're saying but it doesn't make sense here as one of the tests done along with the MOT is an emissions test to make sure the car isn't sending out toxic things and if it was it wouldn't pass the MOT.
WE don't have classic cars here at all, just tatty old bangers on plentiful supply.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
29 Sep 09
It sounds a little like the US's Cash for Clunkers. I guess it's a little hard for me to comment since I am not familiar with the car tax and heck even the Euros
I can comment that the US government offered the $4500 for older cars to help emissions and fuel consumption and they did well
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@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi Zeph, I keep seeing people talking about cash for clunkers but thought it had something to do with second hand car lots.
Seriously acutally.
I think your $4500 comes in at around 3000 euros so it's a better deal over there, unless cars cost more of course. I'm still mad that not only can I not afford a new car but will have to mylot at twice the speed to pay a double car tax. Indeed my challenge here was to pay my annual car tax through mylotting, the bill arrives in November.
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@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Well a new car can start here at about $18,000 and can go very high. Our last Jeep that we bought was $26,000. We just have to buy plates for our car every year and it's like $60. That plate tax does vary from state to state, like when I lived in Nevada it was based on the value of your car so if you bought a new car your plates could cost $400 and in a few years it would be less expensive.
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
30 Sep 09
Hi ya thea
I think this is so not fair. My car is yes over 10 years old but when I got it a year ago, it had only done 30,000 miles and even now it only has just over 40,000 miles on the clock. Not bad for a 10 year old car! It was left standing in a garage for a long time and certain things have deteriated on it, a bit of rust here and there and the steering has stiffened but apart from that it really doesn't warrent scrapping! It would fly through it's MoT so how can they justify scrapping a car in perfect working order? Why should I have to pay more than others to keep my car on the road? It is a small car and has low emitions, it's not fair!!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
30 Sep 09
Hi Humbug, I'm in full agreement, I think its a stupid law, but they aren't insisting we scrap them at ten years, we can pay double tax to drive them instead.
Mine will be ten years old next year and I intend to run it into scrap before changing it. It's got things wrong with it but it's the newest car I've ever had, it had 18,000 kiloms on it when I bought it when it was 3. Got a lot more now though but it passes its MOT and it's noxious emissions test. The repairs I've been trying to get enough money together for will stay on hold whilst I pay the car tax instead, totally crazy.
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@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
10 Oct 09
I would not like this new law at all. The car i drive is a 1994 so that makes it 15 years old. Even with the money they are giving you for scrapping the older ones with the economy the way it is i would never be able to buy a newer one, and i would never be able to pay the tax on it.....So as far as i can see is that this new law would only hurt the poor.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
10 Oct 09
Hi dlr, exactly right, I'll be in that exact position a year from now, my car will be ten and I have no wish to scrap it even if I could replace it,which I'm in no postition to do at all. So I'll end up with a double tax bill. I expect this will be the advent of people increasing the cars insurance for the inevitable accidents which are going to scrap the cars accidentaly and be paid for on insurance.
@patofgold23 (5069)
• Philippines
30 Sep 09
I hope that doesnt happen where i am..
my car is too old and would qualify for the antique show...
it's gonna cost me a lot in taxes
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
30 Sep 09
Hi Patofgold, I'm hoping it doesn't actually happen here too, it's a joke to have to pay double taxes for an old car. Most of the cars round here would also qualify for the antique show, I know people who patch them up with string and pollifiler and use house paint to cover up the pollifer. Both of my wings are loose and attached with bits of old wire, a free repair job by the garage.
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@patofgold23 (5069)
• Philippines
30 Sep 09
lolz...at least the one i have now is a lot better than my car wehn i was in college..it is too old that i leave pieces of it behind everywhere i go ..LOLZ!!!!!!!!
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
30 Sep 09
Hi tvb, well if I could buy a new car with 1000 euros I'd be signing on the dotted line now to turn mine into scrap, but no, it's a voucher towards one which really doesn't cover the 7000 euros difference. Maybe all the car manufactures could really support this law by selling all the new cars at a bargain price of one voucher.
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@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
29 Sep 09
Do they not think that if we could afford a newer one, we would have one. Why don't they start with making sure that peoples pay is high enough that they don't have to try to work two jobs just to pay for their basic bills. I just don't know where they think the already poor is going to get money for more taxes.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi thouroughrob, as I don't normally pay much attention to the goings on about cars I think I most have missed some EU directive on this being imposed or a fine landing on Greece, as it certainly doesn't sound like any Greek law to me. We have tons of tatty old cars and vans on the road and I for one don't want a new one nor can I afford one. But I sure as hell resent the fact that I could be subjected to double tax on the one I have whilst the rich with new cars get no increase in their tax bil.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
29 Sep 09
We have a scrappage system too. £1,000 from the Government and another £1,000 from the dealer. Apparently it has been quite successful. But it is very false and quite contradictory. With one breath the Government blames global warming on the number of vehicles in this country and with the next they are injecting funds into the car industry. Over here if you have a car over 25 years old then you pay no annual road tax. I always thought that elderly cars were part of the Greek lifestyle. A way of life almost. LOL.
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi plkefish, well I must admit to still trying to get my head around this rather contradictory new law and just glad that it is at least a year off, but by then of course I will fall victim to it.
Your system sounds far better than the one the Greeks are thinking of as your way you can either run the car into the ground and then get scrap value for it, or manage to keep it going for 25 years and then be absolved from paying road tax. You are right of course about the old greek cars on the roads and I know many people who choose to keep old vehicles, especailly handy for flitting between olive fields, and are now going to face a double car tax. And in the fishing village if ones house is close to the sea then old tatty cars are the norm as the sea water corrodes the body work.
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@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
4 Oct 09
Hi thea,
Do not you think this move by the govt was necessary? One of the causes of the global warming now is the carbon monoxide that cars and vehicles emanate. Thi sis high time that all the Nation across the globe impose this law that no vehicle older than ten years are not seen on the road. and fortunately the Supreme court of India too has passed its verdict that if any vehicle violates this would invite trouble on its head.
At least one small step to check the increasing heat.
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@krajibg (11922)
• Guwahati, India
5 Oct 09
Thea again, there is validity in what you have said. 'Not much olive farmers.." was the quote of the day. Sure in the rural areas all are can not afford to buy new cars or vehicle every ten years. Might be the law is restricted to the cities only. Besides what you have suggested is followed strictly this pollution thing could be checked to a large extent.
And the country sides, I guess can afford to allow 15 years since pollution in those areas is still much less. What say?
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
5 Oct 09
I'm glad to see you are making a little leeway on allowances. If one looks at a city which is constant deadlock, with cars at a standstill waiting to go somewhere at rush hour then changes should be made. Use the public transport, car share to work, get the cars off the roads which are obviously polluting the cities. Athens has had a system for many years whereby residents are only allowed to take their cars through the city every other day.
But in this rural unpolluted area of mine, the increased tax is a joke for those who can't or don't want to replace a perfectly good car. My main regret is missing an opportunity here. If one had registered a number of old cars in ones name a financial killing could now be made. My man has a number of vehicles one of which is an old banger, he has already made arrangements to sell most of its parts on before scrapping the body. And he wins out as the other vehicles are not older than 4 years old.
You will be glad to hear that in yesterdays national elections Pasok were voted back into power and intend to run with a green plan. Presumably they will forget this as soon as in office but one never knows.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
4 Oct 09
Hi krajib, no I don't agree as when the car goes in for its MOT then an emission check is done on it and it will fail if it is polluting too much.
I don't think that the way this is being done is beneficial here at all and I don't know many olive farmers who will be too happy at the thought of running a brand new vehicle through muddy fields. This is a rural area where old cars are in the majority and people cannot afford to replace them and nor, I believe, should they be expected to do so. Such meaures are fine to be introduced in areas where the government is responsible for providing an excellent public transport service but not here. The law may well have been passed in India but you know as well as I do that it will be violated there totally with the bribe system in place ready to hand out false papers.
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@shibham (16977)
• India
29 Sep 09
hi thea. how are you?
perhaps your government are going to be conscious about the rapid pollution. so i think it is a nice idea and you are benefited by it through 1000euros. once i heard it in delhi. all the old bikes and cars were banned just few years ago. yes we should be conscious about the global warming as government. thanks
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi shibham, I'm fine thank you and hope you are as well. I hadn't realised that this law had been introduced elsewhere. So India has gone a step further and banned old cars. How old did a car need to be to be banned? Here they won't be banned just double taxed which seems to suit the rich who can afford to buy new cars but then pay half the tax of those who can't afford to replace their old cars.
@JamesKYTan (1605)
• Malaysia
29 Sep 09
Double the tax? It will be a burden to those low income earner.
Those rich won't be driving a more than 10 years old car, right?
1000 euros is good as it can be use as the downpayment to get a
new car. However, getting a new car has it cost too. Higher insurance
premium, service and maintenance charges, etc. You need to have enough
monthly income in order to pay for the new car instalment...
1 person likes this
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
29 Sep 09
Hi James, exactly the point, only those who can afford to buy and run a new car are exempt from double the road tax. The 1000 euro voucher as payment on a new car isn't a lot of use when it involves buying a new car one can't afford in the first place. As a country we don't use credit which is a wonderful thing to have avoided, but now of course it is slowly creeping in on some large purchases but generally it is a cash society which means people don't fall prey to debt. But credit costs extra too here than cash, the same car will automatically be cheaper if sold to a cash buyer rather than financed on credit. I consider my 9 year old car which was second hand 6 years ago as almost new, as cars do not depreciate here in value so there is no real second hand market, we drive them until they give up the ghost. It is only really the rich and the ex pats who drive shiny new cars.
@missliss08 (766)
• United States
29 Sep 09
I can understand where they are coming from with this, BUT, and this is a big But, they can not expect this to be possible, when cars run as expensive as they do. People purchase used cars because they are more affordable to their budgets. I think it is a highly unfair law.
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