Majority of foreign lorries complying with HGV Levy
Around 215 lorry drivers have been fined for failing to pay the newly introduced HGV Levy.
Since April 1, any HGVs registered outside of the UK and weighing 12 tonnes or more have had to pay up to £10 a day or £1,000 per year to drive on British roads. Those who avoid, refuse or can’t pay the levy face a flat fine of £300.
In the two weeks since the levy was introduced, more than 92,000 levies have been purchased to cover nearly 78,000 trucks registered in 56 countries, according to the Department for Transport.
The HGV Road User Levy was brought in with a view to levelling the playing field for UK truck drivers who are often forced to pay tolls when driving in Europe, while their non-UK-based counterparts were able to use British roads without any charge.
Foreign operators must pay the levy before entering the UK, either online, on the telephone and at point-of-sale terminals. Discounts will be applied for longer periods with charges varying between £1.70 and £10 per day or £85 to £1,000 per year.
The Department for Transport couldn’t confirm how much money had been collected in fines. However, assuming each driver was able to pay the £300 fine, £64,500 will have been added to the Government pot.
“High compliance”
Transport Minister Robert Goodwill explained: “Before the levy was introduced, foreign hauliers could fill up their tanks abroad, make their deliveries and then return home without making any UK tax contribution, which was unfair on UK hauliers.
“The levy is something UK hauliers wanted and we were determined to do all we could to help. We introduced it a year ahead of schedule and it is great news that compliance is so high.”
Karen Dee, Director of Policy at the Freight Transport Association, said the levy’s introduction has been successful in addressing “the imbalance in costs which favours foreign operators”.
She added: “The levy reinforces the targeting of enforcement action against those non-UK registered HGVs that choose to flout UK laws.”
