Warning as drivers told to 'remove three things from their car' before next week

Motorists are being urged to clear out their cars before next Wednesday, due to an anticipated rise in fuel duty with the upcoming Budget on October 30 announced by the new Labour government. Aidan Rushby, Founder and CEO of Carmoola, has advised: "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."

In preparation, Carmoola has suggested drivers should remove unnecessary items from the interior to reduce excess weight, along with external accessories like roof racks, tents, and boxes.

They also recommend maintaining a steady speed and keeping a calm mindset behind the wheel. Meanwhile, Paul Holland, managing director for UK/ANZ Fleet at Corpay, which includes Allstar in the UK, expressed his concerns, articulating: "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 commented on the significant impact of recent events, stating that the 5p cut has been a "small, often insufficient, but still welcome relief to all that take to the UK's roads". He cautioned: "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.", reports Birmingham Live.