Andy Burnham must close a major loophole in Labour's upcoming car tax changes, as a new investigation reveals motorists could hack the system using mileage blocker devices. The pay-per-mile scheme for electric vehicles, set for 2028, is at risk of becoming a farce unless changes are made now.
Mileage blockers expose tax loophole
An investigation by Autocar found that hundreds of drivers and businesses may be buying mileage blocker devices every week. These tools prevent a vehicle from adding mileage data to its ECU or modules, making them difficult to detect. Motorists with the know-how could avoid declaring hundreds or thousands of miles, saving money at the proposed rates of 3p per mile for EVs and 1.5p for hybrids.
Two-tier system for drivers
The devices are not illegal to sell or market for testing away from the road, though using them on the road is illegal. However, if they are hard to detect, enforcement becomes challenging. This could create a two-tier system, where the expected 5.6 million EV drivers in the UK from 2028 who do not cheat would be unfairly penalised.
Urgent action needed
Burnham needs to address this issue before it spirals out of control. Tougher legislation on the sale of mileage blockers is needed sooner rather than later. Labour should have examined all possible loopholes before announcing the policy, or the scheme risks becoming a laughing stock.
