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Road pricing: drivers will get refunds for delays


The government introduced road pricing in the Budget last month. Drivers of EVs will now have to pay extra money for every mile driven.


However, like the refunds for delayed train journeys, drivers will be able to claim for a refund if their trip is delayed by roadworks, accidents, bad weather, or acts of God.  And learner drivers will also be able to claim back up to 10,000 miles of practice driving, but only for the 12 months before they passed their practical test.


Drivers will not get a refund for claiming that the government wrongly advised them to buy a diesel car, on the basis of low emissions.  Nor can they get a refund if they bought an electric car based on wildly optimistic estimates of the cost of charging it or fictionalised estimates of how far you can drive on a full battery.  And let’s not even start on the problems with hybrid cars.  Suffice to say, you only bought the damn thing to avoid the congestion charge, so if you now pay twice, through fuel duty AND the mileage charge, well, that’s just karma.  So tough luck, clever clogs.


An HMRC spokesman said, ‘Although we sort of need the money (according to Rachel), the government has agreed to have a level playing field between cars and trains.  As you can get a refund for train delays, the government has agreed that you can also get a refund for car delays.  As with the trains, you can get a full refund if your car journey was delayed by two hours or more.


‘To claim, you will simply need to provide your government-approved GPS tracker data to confirm that you were stuck on the road for the whole time, with no stops for coffee, meals, or anything else.  That data, plus the details on the accompanying 36-page form, will guarantee you a full refund within 6–9 months.’



Drivers offered £3,750 discount to buy a horse

The cost of a horse or pony will soon be reduced by up to £3,750 under grants being introduced by the government to encourage drivers to move towards more sustainable forms of transport.


A spokesman for the Department for Transport said, ‘The discounts will apply to eligible animals costing up to £10,000, with the most environmentally friendly seeing the biggest reductions. As the cost of running a medium-sized horse is around £8,000 a year, this scheme will incentivise people to choose a horse rather than a car. Vehicle excise duty does not apply to horses and riders will also avoid paying fuel duty, although VAT continues to apply to hay.'

‘We are supporting this initiative by requiring all public sector buildings to install hitching posts so that animals can be left safely during GP appointments, police interviews and so on. We will also require councils to install horse waste bins, as the current dog waste bins will not cope with the extra business.  We will be amending the legislation so that horses and ponies can use cycle lanes.’


The RAC saying discounted horses should start appearing at dealerships ‘within weeks’.  The RAC will be offering consumers a used horse checking service and a warranty scheme.

Under the scheme, discounts will range between £500 and £3,750.  Eligible horses must be capable of accepting a rider or pulling a cart and cannot for the purposes of racing, ready meals, or glue.

Drivers remain concerned that a horse will not have sufficient range for the journeys they want to make. They also worry that the UK needs more horse troughs, and that a horse is still not a practical option for people who live in a flat.



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