Yeah these monstrosities are also gaining popularity in cities in the Netherlands. And for the trained eye you see their license plates containing parts starting with V, meaning they are bought by businesses so they don’t pay BPM (a form of tax for vehicles which is substantial in the Netherlands). They are essentially getting these cars at two thirds of the price and the rest is paid by tax payers.
But the kicker is: the vehicle can be bought by any company. You can just start a business that doesn’t do anything, get a car in that business’s name for a reduced fee, and drive it whenever you want.
And then they drive around streets too narrow for these cars, obstruct vision for other drivers, be a menace to cyclists and pedestrians… I feel we can only fight this if we install a max vehicle size and weight in some urban areas.
That happened in the UK too. Vans are differently taxed to cars here for businesses. Vans are defined by the volume of their cargo area, which these just about meet. Thankfully though, the government changed the rules so that for any new leases or on the date of renewal, double cab pickups are considered to be cars for tax purposes.
Cars are taxed on their co2 emissions and on the user it’s given to (ie not the company). This still needs to change as it doesn’t quite work anymore as the massive electric SUVs have taken over. A think tank has recommended a weight and/or price component so hopefully at the next budget they’ll change it.
Maybe you can lobby to get the same?
Maybe we should tax them a lot. It’s disgusting that these monstrosities are even allowed.
Thanks Rutte!
I’d also add a max vehicle tonnage. I’d not limit it to urban areas but everywhere.
Or easier, prohibit these cars altogether. If I even have to argue it that way, the prohibition would protect the car industry also from those megacars (which take up more parking spaces, leading to fewer car possibilities, and endangering bicyclists).
A max vehicle tonnage won’t work since you need to exempt trucks and delivery vans (or change a couple of things drastically). So you could say that when something is used for work/delivery they are exempt and all others have a max tonnage. But since these guys buy and register it as a work vehicle, they will not be hit by the max tonnage.
Would imposing a limit on the ratio of useable volume/volume be reasonable ? Or hight off the road?
I don’t want fewer of these beasts, I want them gone. They are absurdly dangerous with no net benefit (offroading? Seriously??)
Pickup trucks need a yearly inspection for the amount of new dents, scratches and/or poomarks on the bed. If less than ten are found, the truck is to be hit with a wrench until the condition is met.
It’s very pleasing any time I’m in a bus and one of these tanks actually looks small from my window seat. How do you like it, dillweed.
I don’t wanna judge too much, maybe he use it to take his couch and tv to his friend house every friday. Again, no judgement.
