OK, so this is really hacking me off.
Plenty of us new 330e drivers are probably company car drivers, and the tax advantages of the new model are part of choosing the car.
BUT, the government have significantly disadvantaged 330e M Sport users with its new twin track BIK published rates for 2020/21 to 2022/23, until one set of rates become applicable.
For 2020/21, 330e M Sports registered before April 2020 attract a 12% BIK rate, and it stays at 12% through to 2022/23 (thats as far as the government have published).
However, despite the new 330e already having its emissions and electric range rated to the new WLTP standards now (rather than the old NDEC measurements), if a driver chooses to register AN IDENTICAL 330e M Sport
after April 2020, the BIK is 2% lower in 2020/21, 1% lower in 2021/22 and then matches the 12% rate in 2022/23.
Surely if a vehicle registered BEFORE April 2020 has the emissions and electric range the same as a car registered AFTER April 2020 when measured by the same WLTP standard, why should the driver be penalised by having a BIK charge at a higher rate. Why can’t the BIK rate for each tax year be applied based on the current standards for that year, rather than being crystallised on the registration date?
Essentially, BMW (and those of us that choose 330e models) are penalised for releasing a vehicle that achieves the lower rates earlier than when it really matters.
Clearly doing your bit for the environment by choosing a low emission PHEV is deemed so important that we’re taxed more for making that choice earlier!!!!!!