UK HGV Road User Levy to be suspended for one year

22 July 2020

The Treasury has announced that the UK HGV Road User Levy (which applies to UK and foreign HGVs of 12 tonnes or more using the UK road network).  This will be suspended for one year from 01 August 2020 to assist hauliers to recover from the financial strain caused by COVID-19 .

Hauliers do not need to do anything to benefit from the 12-month suspension. A levy rate of zero will automatically apply at a vehicle’s normal VED/Levy renewal date (but this could be as far as 11 months away) from August onwards so that each vehicle will benefit from 12 months of the discounted rate.

In the meantime, operators should continue to ensure that their vehicles are correctly taxed and should also review their financial standing to satisfy themselves that they continue to meet this ongoing and mandatory requirement – if they do not, the Traffic Commissioner should be informed and a period of grace requested.

During the next year, the Government will take the opportunity to review the HGV Levy. They will ensure that it continues to meet the Government’s current and future objectives.

More information can be found here or by contacting Backhouse Jones’ Regulatory team on regulatory@backhouses.co.uk or call 01254 828300.