The HGV levy, abandoned at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, is to be reintroduced from 1 August with a new emphasis on emissions, weight and time spent in the UK. The department for transport (DfT) said vehicles of 12 tonnes or more driving on motorways or A roads must pay the levy.

The amount charged will depend on the weight of the vehicle, including the weight of a trailer if a rigid vehicle is pulling one; its Euro emissions class and the amount of time it spends in the UK. Rates vary from between £150 to £749 per vehicle, per year.

The DfT said the HGV levy was aimed at making sure lorries make a contribution reflecting the wear and tear of the road network. “These reforms to the HGV levy are a further step towards reflecting the environmental performance of the vehicle, focusing more on air quality emissions and indicative levels of CO2 emissions,” the DfT said.

“For foreign-registered vehicles, the reforms also ensure the levy is focused on road usage and that it is more clearly aligned with the government’s international obligations.”

It added that the levy was suspended in August 2020 to support the haulage sector and aid pandemic recovery efforts. However, the RHA said it opposed the levy’s return and that it was a tax increase on all road haulage.

In a consultation on the issue last year it said if it was re-introduced then a lower rate of £100 for Euro VI or £130 for older vehicles should be applied to vehicles below 18 tonnes. “The RHA has previously opposed HGV levy return and is concerned about how the reintroduction of the charge will have on small to medium sized operators during a tight economic climate,” it said in a statement.

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