Taxi Driver Online

Why does'nt the government try incentives rather force.
If they want more WAV's make using them more attractive. No VAT on WAV taxis, there is no VAT on WAV for private use. Reduce license fees for WAV operators. Fuel subsidies, tax breaks there are plenty of ways to encourage WAV's onto the ranks. Force by legislation only breeds resentment. W/C users would prefer a driver that wants their trade and not one that resents having to take them.
In this area we are not allowed to use WAV for Social Services contracts unless it is a specific w/c job. They say they are not suitable for the elderly and special needs clients. All day centre etc. work must be saloons.

This point has been made before, its absolutely not going to happen.

I'll use a new E7 as an example, the vehicle costs £21,250 of which £3164.89 is VAT. The average fuel usage is approx £70 per week, over a year thats £3640 of which £542.12 is VAT.

Now if every vehicle had to be a new WAV (and no I'm not saying that they will) the total revenue for the VAT man in year one would be £3707.01 from each vehicle.

I have no idea how many WAVs their are or are going to be operating accross the whole country but lets say, for arguments sake another 25,000 new vehicles are bought accross the whole country, your proposal would mean the VAT man loses out on £92,675,250 and I don't think they will do that.

What the government have done is pass all of the responsibility back to the local authorities, just so that they don't actually have to do anything.


B. Lucky

Why do buses get subsidies, reduced fuel etc. ?
Perhaps we don't get it because we don't ask and don't have the resources of the big bus companys to fight our corner?
If we spent more time fighting for our rights and dues instead of fighting each other we would not be lumbered with bad legislation just to make politicians look good to the disabled pressure groups.

Most new vehicles are bought by companies that are VAT reg and reclaim the VAT anyway, so any loss would be no-where near the figure you claim. Reducing the VAT on WAV would help small businesses and owner drivers.
We need to be defined as PUBLIC TRANSPORT, this should be the main priority of the taxi trade. How long before bus companies start encroaching on the taxi trade. Can you buy fuel at less than half price ?

I think this is something we should all put pressure our own councils to do.

Many councils spend millions on subsidising buses, sometimes at a rate of £50 per person per trip. I think giving a licensed WAV owner, be it HC or PH, a free vehicle license is the least they should do.

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IDFIMH

Mr Anon makes a good point.

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IDFIMH

Sussex you are part of the problem. You waste everybodies time whinning about not having a plate and urging de-limitation.
You are a cancer in this trade.

And you have just confirmed the blokes point.
Dont have a pop at the same time as saying we should all be freinds.
I expect its becuase of people like you that makes Sussex like he is.

you must be kidding about getting subsidies on fuel i have also been in the road haulage industry for 15 years and there is non for them either, they had to bring the country to its knees in 2000 just to stop the fuel esculator pushing the price up, and this is on trucks doing 7 to 8 miles to the gallon lucky to get what we get a mile ie £1.30 - £1.40 in a car/taxi doing 30/40 to the gallon if they cant get one we have no chance

I think we are all part of the problem.

As for whinning about not having a plate, you could be right, but why shouldn't I?

As for urging de-limitation, well I don't think the majority of councils that still maintain quotas will need too much urging from me. They appear to be, at last, seeing the errors of their ways.

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IDFIMH

Hmmm. We can get fuel duty rebate.

Eg. School Contract to a school with a sixth form is a Section 20 Contract. This can be registered as a Local Bus Service. (£42 for a Special Restricted Operators Licence, plus £40 to register the route).

Then, you can claim the fuel duty back.

Simple, innit.

Weeeell, simple if you dont mind filling in loads of forms