Consumers believe road tax is a stealth tax

A new survey has revealed that many British motorists believe that the government is using road tax as a stealth tax.

According to the survey by the AA, 82% of the organization's members agree that road tax is being used as a stealth tax, while a further 77% feel that backdating the tax changes will dent the values of some used cars.

The organisation's president, Edmund King, has now written to the Chancellor notifying him of the growing concern, and said the tax would affect many motorists who won't be able to change their cars.

Mr King said: "Over 80% of motorists now see road tax as a 'stealth tax', and we have called it a mean tax rather than a green tax."

"We believe that the retrospective nature of the tax increases for cars registered between 2001 and 2006 should be scrapped before it becomes a 10p tax on wheels."

He said there was confusion coupled with a lack of clear information about the proposals.