Drivers must remove 'three items' from car before Wednesday

Drivers must remove three items from their cars before next Wednesday ahead of a planned rise in fuel duty. Road users have been warned to take action ahead of the new Labour Party government's Budget on October 30.

Aidan Rushby, Founder and CEO of the vehicle financing service Carmoola, said: "We understand the added financial strain that a hike in fuel costs could place on motorists. Whilst any rise in taxes is out of consumers' control, we’re sharing these practical tips - some well-known, others less so - to help drivers take back some control over their car costs."

Carmoola advised drivers to remove any unnecessary items from inside their vehicle that are creating unnecessary weight. Drivers should remove a external accessories, such as roof racks, tents, and boxes. It also recommended that drivers try their best to maintain a constant speed and stay as calm as possible.

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Paul Holland, managing director for UK/ANZ Fleet at Corpay, including UK brand, Allstar, says: “The government is likely to end the temporary extension of the 5p fuel duty cut that was put in place by the previous Chancellor. While we knew this would happen at some point, the government needs to ask itself whether now is the right time. Are there no other areas it can make cuts?

"Ending the fuel duty cut would only save the government £2bn per year, or one-eleventh of the £22bn ‘budget black hole’. This is a mere drop in the ocean compared to the £788.59bn the UK brought in via tax receipts for the 2022/23 tax year.”

Holland says the impact that the years since Covid and the invasion of Ukraine have had is immense, and the 5p cut was a “small, often insufficient, but still welcome relief to all that take to the UK’s roads”. He warned: “Cutting it now will stop fleets from being able to rebuild after several difficult years, and we urge the government to rethink this reported move.”