West Country Ford dealer Foray Motor Group has launched an initiative worth £4 million at retail prices to help drivers beat swingeing road tax increases.

From April 1, drivers of low emissions cars could see road tax penalties imposed that cost them hundreds of pounds over a typical three year period of ownership.

But Foray, with showrooms in Andover, Salisbury, Poole Shaftesbury, Yeovil, and Taunton, is filling a compound with Fiesta and the new Ka+ models to ensure deliveries can be made before the March 31 cut-off.

“It’s a big commitment but one that we need to make to fulfil anticipated customer orders,” said Tom Croft, group sales manager.

“I don’t want to have to say to customers that we’re sorry we can’t deliver what will be the most popular Fords even if they have ordered in plenty of time.

“The HonestJohn.co.uk website suggests that around 70% of car buyers will lose out through these road tax changes. But Foray sales teams will do our level best to help customers beat the March 31 deadline.

“March is forecast to be one of the busiest months ever for new car registrations as the new 17 number plates arrive so we have everything in place to help keep motoring costs down.

“I want people to know we have done their forward planning.

"We have cars in stock and are geared up to delivering them on time. And we’ll still be offering them with top rate deals, too.”

Only vehicles that emit 0g/km C02 will be eligible for £0 initial and continuing car tax from April 1.

But the current system, in place since 2010, with £0 first registration tax for cars in Bands A to D emitting up to 130 g/km of CO2 will remain applicable to cars registered by March 31, as will the current rates of tax in subsequent years.

Savings

Under the new regime, cars that emit more than 225 g/km of CO2 will face a tax bill in the first year of up to £2,000 instead of £1,120 while any car costing more than a list price (not purchase price after a discount) of £40,000 will have a £310 per year surcharge for the first five annual tax renewals of its life on top of its regular road tax of £130 for alternative fuel vehicles and £140 for petrol or diesel vehicles.

“Fortunately, every current standard Ford model falls outside the scope of this penalty including the super luxury Vignale models which we are now offering across the whole of our network,” said Croft.

> An explanation of the new rates plus details of the current system.