Distance-based charging to be introduced "as soon as possible"

Thursday 18 July 2019

Motorists will be taxed by the distance they drive, under proposals approved by the States this afternoon.

Policy & Resources will start working up detailed proposals and then report back to the States on how to introduce a distance-based charging mechanism.

The decision comes just a day after the possible return of motor tax was taken off the table for the time being.

Pictured: Neil Inder, left, wanted motor tax investigated further, but it was Gavin St Pier's, right, proposal for distance-based charging that was successful. 

P&R intends to use its delegated authority to approve funding from the Budget Reserve to carry out further detailed research and a pilot exercise/trial to collect comprehensive data which could be used to calculate and model an appropriate charging structure.

Providing it is implemented as planned, it will replace fuel duty and bring in what P&R and E&I regard as a "fairer" system that charges motorists based on their use of their vehicles. 

How they voted on approving distance-based charging 

For (21) - Dawn Tindall, Barry Brehaut, Rhian Tooley, John Gollop, Michelle Le Clerc, Lyndon Trott, Jenniffer Merrett, Gavin St Pier, Jane Stephens, Matt Fallaize, Sarah Hansmann Rouxel, Richard Graham, Mark Dorey, Jonathan Le Tocq, Al Brouard, Andrea Dudley-Owen, Emilie Yerby, Shane Langlois, Heidi Soulsby, Lindsay de Sausmarez and Peter Roffey.

Against (12) - Peter Ferbrache, Jan Kuttelwascher, Lester Queripel, Joe Mooney, Paul Le Pelley, Mary Lowe, Laurie Queripel, Jeremy Smithies, Chris Green, Barry Paint, David De Lisle and Rob Prow. 

Abstained (2) - Alderney reps Stephen Roberts and Alex Snowdon. 

Absent (5) - Charles Parkinson, Marc Leadbeater, Carl Meerveld, Neil Inder and Victoria Oliver.