AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

VED havens

10th September 1992
Page 12
Page 12, 10th September 1992 — VED havens
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• German hauliers are following the example of shipping companies and registering trucks abroad so they can run on "number plates of convenience."

At the root of the problem are the huge differences in tax rates between EC countries which the Brussels Eurocrats have so far been unable to harmonise.

In Germany, the road tax on a 40-tonner is about £3,500, compared with about £300 in Portugal.

But the Germans don't need to go far for tax savings — many firms are registering their fleets just over the border in Luxembourg where the annual road tax is only £450.

Haulier Robert Fehrenkoetter plans to register half his 90vehicle fleet in Luxembourg. He calculates the annual saving to be about £70,000.

Dr Adolf Zobel of Germany's hauliers' association BDF says: "More and more German transport companies are fleeing abroad. We can understand why."