Can E46 M3 avoid new road tax?

[notax]

Considering buying an E46 M3 but keen to avoid paying tax I don't need to. I think pre March 2001 cars are exempt from new tax hike - was this model available before this?

[LC23]

Thay came out on a "Y" plate and were after the cut off point unfortunately.

[wilftwo]

saw an M3 on an x plate in london 2 weeks back. Perhaps one of the early press cars.

[Rags]

could be a private plate?

[Fidgits]

I don't see why people are so hung up on an extra £100-£200 extra a year on £10k+ cars that can cost easily £1000's to run on an average basis.

Your better off getting one in the high tax band anyway, as the prices have dropped for this very reason... and you can easily save a couple of years extra road tax in the sticker price saving!

[dadofbud]

Fidgits said:

I don't see why people are so hung up on an extra £100-£200 extra a year on £10k+ cars that can cost easily £1000's to run on an average basis.

Your better off getting one in the high tax band anyway, as the prices have dropped for this very reason... and you can easily save a couple of years extra road tax in the sticker price saving!

Agreed, I don't wish to be rude to the OP, but we are talking about a car that gets through rear tyres in 8-10K miles, and 10K if your lucky.

If you run an M3 with the attention to servicing and detail that it needs you should not even be considering buying one if an extra £ 200.00 road tax is an issue.

Sorry not my intention to offend.

[notax]

Fair point, but as I'm likely to buy a 2001 car anyway I just thought it worth seeing if there were any made pre March 2001. One of my current cars just sneaks inside, seems I won't be as lucky with this one...

[Fidgits]

but the irony is, a pre-new tax car is probably going to hold its value better than a non-new tax car... to the tune of at least 2 years increased road tax...

[Mr_Simpson]

Taxed my M3 2005 last week for £200 and something, cars registered after March 23 2006 move into the new tax band, like my old 06 sti which was £400 odd.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

By the looks of it you'll only save £25 a year if you find a pre 2001 vehicle.

Edited by Mr_Simpson on Thursday 14th August 15:45

[ASBO]

FFS, this whole tax band bollocks is starting to grate.

There is a more than likely chance that the government will slap a huge tax on pre-2001 cars in the near future by virtue of them being non-Euro III or IV compliant or somesuch.

I can't belive so many of you reckon a pre-2001 car is some kind of tax haven. Give it a year and I bet the tax on large-engined pre 2001 cars will litterally cost thousands.

That is all

[Broccers]

ASBO said:

Give it a year and I bet the tax on large-engined pre 2001 cars will litterally cost thousands.

Utter rubbish.

The reason they didnt include older cars is they don't have an emmissions rating, increasing the tax with no evidence as such would make the whole green thing seem even more of the joke it is already.

[Neil.D]

And it is 'only' £200 extra at the end of the day.
When you think about how much these things actually cost to buy and run, hell, I would spend (as Im sure most M car owners would) £200 on a new set of wheel nuts if they cost that much.

Irksome I know but not a factor I wouls consider when buying into performance motoring.

[ASBO]

Broccers said:

ASBO said:

Give it a year and I bet the tax on large-engined pre 2001 cars will litterally cost thousands.

Utter rubbish.

The reason they didnt include older cars is they don't have an emmissions rating, increasing the tax with no evidence as such would make the whole green thing seem even more of the joke it is already.

Why is it rubbish?

Do you remember that pre 2001 cars are still split into <1.6 and >1.6 tax bands? Why do you think that is?

I'd quite happily bet money that the government will raise taxes for pre-2001 cars, especially as, C02 rating or not, these are likely to be the most polluting cars by virtue of their age and hence the most at risk from huge taxation.

Moreover, when was the last time the government needed a good reason to rape the motorist?

[RatBoy M3CS]

Mr_Simpson said:

Taxed my M3 2005 last week for £200 and something, cars registered after March 23 2006 move into the new tax band, like my old 06 sti which was £400 odd.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

By the looks of it you'll only save £25 a year if you find a pre 2001 vehicle.

Edited by Mr_Simpson on Thursday 14th August 15:45

Yours is an 05 car.. you taxed it last week, and dodged the 400+ from that thief with the eyebrows at No:11.. i looked on the DVLA website today.. and as far as i could figure out.. from March 08 we are band G and its 400 quid now..?

Edited by RatBoy M3CS on Thursday 14th August 21:26

[Vixpy1]

RatBoy M3CS said:

Mr_Simpson said:

Taxed my M3 2005 last week for £200 and something, cars registered after March 23 2006 move into the new tax band, like my old 06 sti which was £400 odd.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicl...

By the looks of it you'll only save £25 a year if you find a pre 2001 vehicle.

Edited by Mr_Simpson on Thursday 14th August 15:45

Yours is an 05 car.. you taxed it last week, and dodged the 400+ from that thief with the eyebrows at No:11.. i looked on the DVLA website today.. and as far as i could figure out.. from March 08 we are band G and its 400 quid now..?

Edited by RatBoy M3CS on Thursday 14th August 21:26

[Broccers]

ASBO said:

I'd quite happily bet money that the government will raise taxes for pre-2001 cars

They do it every year as a matter of course. Our BMW is renewed in April so each time the reminder drops through the letter box its incorrect as the price is hiked in the budget.

So yes tax will increase but I'd be happier to pay 185 (now) or 195 (next year?) rather than 400 plus for a newer car with the same performance.

[Vixpy1]

Broccers said:

ASBO said:

I'd quite happily bet money that the government will raise taxes for pre-2001 cars

They do it every year as a matter of course. Our BMW is renewed in April so each time the reminder drops through the letter box its incorrect as the price is hiked in the budget.

So yes tax will increase but I'd be happier to pay 185 (now) or 195 (next year?) rather than 400 plus for a newer car with the same performance.

Put it this way, 5 x £185 + £400 , is better than 6 x £400

[danzltiu]

Taxed my 2004 M3 this week £210. Pleasantly surprised after all the talk etc. £400 plus would be a pain considering the mileage I do in it but wouldn,t be without the car!!!

[Fidgits]

danzltiu said:

Taxed my 2004 M3 this week £210. Pleasantly surprised after all the talk etc. £400 plus would be a pain considering the mileage I do in it but wouldn,t be without the car!!!

same as my Lotus then..

[CRACKIE]

Broccers said:

ASBO said:

Give it a year and I bet the tax on large-engined pre 2001 cars will litterally cost thousands.

Utter rubbish.

The reason they didnt include older cars is they don't have an emmissions rating, increasing the tax with no evidence as such would make the whole green thing seem even more of the joke it is already.

Is it C02 emmissions that are checked during an MOT ? I wouldn't be surprised to see some contrived attempt by the TW4TS to tax Pre March 01 cars based on their previous MOT's emmisions