Thousands of foreign hauliers who operate in the UK have registered to pay the new HGV levy and are paying the charge, according to transport minister Robert Goodwill.
More than 92,000 levies have been purchased for trucks registered in 56 different countries since the HGV levy came into force on April 1, 2014, while nearly 78,000 vehicles have been registered.
Early figures show compliance is high, with around 215 vehicles fined for non-compliance.
“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,” Goodwill said.
All HGVs at or above 12 tonnes maximum weight must pay the charge, irrespective of their nationality – and the levy has largely been welcomed by the industry.
“The introduction of the road user levy is welcome news for UK operators,” said Karen Dee, director of policy at the Freight Transport Association. “As well as going some way to address the imbalance in costs which favours foreign operators, it reinforces the targeting of enforcement action against those non-UK registered HGVs that choose to flout UK laws.”
The levy is structured in a series of bands which reflect vehicle type, weight and number of axles. UK operators pay the levy at the same time as VED in one transaction, though VED is being reduced so more than 90 per cent of UK vehicles will pay no more than did before the levy was introduced.
Foreign operators must pay the levy before using UK roads. Charges vary between £1.70 and £10 per day or £85 to £1000 per year.
The levy is being enforced by DVSA at the roadside through a mixture of targeted stops and as an additional check undertaken as part of existing road-safety related stops, though police also have levy enforcement powers.
Drivers face a fine of £300 if they are caught using the roads without having paid the levy.
