The BVRLA is urging the Chancellor to support the uptake of electric cars by keeping Benefit-in-Kind rates low and giving foresight beyond the current 2024/25 cut-off – and it’s calling on the fleet sector to help support its campaign.

BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney

The association is highlighting that nearly 60% of electric vehicles on UK roads are company-registered while 80% of salary sacrifice orders are for battery electric vehicles due to their appealing low tax rates.

And its new campaign encourages fleet industry professionals to write to their local MP to educate them on how company car schemes are democratising the move to EVs.

Chief executive Gerry Keaney said: “The uncertainty caused by the lack of foresight beyond 2024/25, or by seeing a sudden jump in rates, will cause the growth of EVs to stall. This needs to be addressed by the Chancellor in the budget this autumn.”

A key part of the campaign is an event for MPs in July, where a selection of industry experts will host a drive-by event outside the Houses of Parliament. The event will highlight the positive outcomes that will come with more years of tax foresight, keeping BEV BiK rates low, and staggering any increases to avoid a sudden hike.

At the event, MPs will be asked to pledge their support to the #SeeTheBenefit campaign and encourage the Chancellor to act in the Autumn Budget.

The BVRLA is calling on representatives from across the industry to write to their local MP and encourage them to attend the event next month.

Using a template on the BVRLA website, letters can automatically be created and issued to MPs – promoting the positive results seen by the current low levels of BiK tax and warning of the detrimental impact that raising rates by too much too quickly will have on the UK’s Road to Zero.

“As we weather the cost-of-living crisis, drivers need to know what their tax bills will be. The Government needs to keep up the fragile momentum it has created in the face of the current economic headwinds, now is not the time to accelerate tax rises.

“The more industry professionals that write to their MP on this matter, the better. Each letter sent gives the campaign more momentum, educates more MPs, and makes our voice louder with those that will ultimately determine future rates,” added Keaney.

Full details of the campaign can be found on the BVRLA website and anybody looking to share the pre-written letter can do so via the online form – all that is required is their name, email and postcode.