Petrol and Diesel

63% of the cost of each litre of fuel for your vehicle goes to Gordon Brown. On a standard fill of say, 40 litres, about £30 goes to the Exchequer. Of course, you are taxed not once, but three times on your petrol or diesel. First, you pay income tax. Then you pay fuel duty. Then you pay VAT on the fuel duty.

Do you remember, in the old days, you could save a bit by buying a diesel car? They soon caught onto that. Now diesel costs more at the forecourt than petrol. This is the only country in Europe where diesel fuel costs more than petrol. In some countries the differences are huge; Denmark has nearly a 20p difference, Norway 10p, Germany 20 pence and Holland, a staggering 30 pence. All these countries pay this amount less for Diesel.

Some say, vehicle fuel is a luxury, a choice. I say it is a necessity. In fact it is a tax on life. Even if you don't drive yourself, you are utterly dependent upon those who do, people who deliver everything you need. If you use a car to travel to work, you are being taxed to work. If you then have to pay to park at your place of work, an increasing phenomenon, especially in PFI funded workplaces, you have the pleasure of being taxed four times in order to work, to pay your taxes...

Graphic courtesy of http://www.whatprice.co.uk/petrol-prices/cost-litre-breakdown.html

European price comparisons: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuel/