The UK HGV Road User Levy has been introduced from April 2014 and affects all vehicles weighing 12 tonnes or more that use the UK road network. The introduction of the levy has been brought in by the Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin and has been brought in a year ahead of schedule.
UK truck drivers working in Europe currently pay tolls and levies when delivering goods abroad. But foreign trucks operating in the UK have not been required to make a similar payment.
The liability is for each individual vehicle over 12 tonnes and the levy paid cannot be transferred between vehicles. There is a scale of costs for daily, weekly, monthly, half yearly and yearly options. Non UK registered vehicles can make use of all payment frequency options but UK Registered vehicles can only make use of the half yearly or yearly options. Costs for the levy also vary dependent upon the VED (Vehicle Excise Duty) Band for the vehicle. For example a Non UK Vehicle in VED Band A can make a single payment as low as £ 1.70 and up to £10.00 for a single day, or between £85 to £1,000 per year.
Collection of the LGV Road User Levy for UK Registered Vehicles is done along side the VED in a single transaction. However for Non UK Registered Vehicles this is collected in a variety of ways. They can pay by use of an electronic payment via a Non UK Payment System, Use of the Payment system developed and operated by Northgate Public Services or via other payment channels such as a Prepaid Account, BACs, Credit Car, Fuel Card, Debit Card or by using a Point of Sale Terminal (including cash payment facilities).
Non payment of the UK HGV Road User Levy is a criminal offence and can lead to fine of £300. The enforcement of the Levy will carried out by DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency) records, ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) Cameras and checks by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) at the roadside. There will be fixed penalties of £300 on the spot to non–compliant drivers along with financial deposits from drivers based outside the UK.
On a side note, The government is also investing £3.3 billion in major road schemes which will provide over 500 miles of additional lane capacity to the strategic road network and £10.7 billion to add at least 400 miles of capacity on the busiest motorways.