2024 Vehicle Weight Penalty Rules and Tax Changes: What You Need to Know

2023-09-28 08:05:00

Unsurprisingly, the penalty rules will become even more severe in 2024, in particular those of the weight penalty.

As expected, the penalty will be even more severe in 2024, as it is a little more every year! Or rather the penalties, because since 2022, one tax hides another: in addition to that calculated from CO2 emissions, there is that on weight.

For the moment, vehicles penalized by the weight penalty are those which weigh more than 1800 kg, with a tax of €10 per excess kilo. However, plug-in hybrid models and 100% electric models are spared. But not simple hybrids. There are therefore already models of this type taxed, for example the Toyota Highlander, affected by a penalty weighing €3,250.

Please note: in 2024, the trigger threshold will fall to 1600 kg. Which will therefore affect more hybrid vehicles. For example, at the top of the Iconic range, the new Renault Espace hybrid announces a curb weight of 1,633 kg.

The finance bill also announces a change in the calculation of the tax, with a progressive price per kilo. It will be €10 from 1600 to 1799 kg, then €15 from €1800 to €1899, €20 from 1900 to 1999 kg, €25 from 2000 to 2100 kg then €30.

Read also
2024 ecological bonus scale: who will be the winners and losers?

In 2024, plug-in hybrids and electrics will still be spared. But a notable change has already been noted in the PLF: in 2025, plug-in hybrids will be subject to the weight penalty. This should accelerate the fall in their sales, especially since manufacturers have tended to make the batteries bigger to have better electric ranges. For example, on the new Tiguan, it goes from 10.6 to 19.7 kWh.

The government has, however, planned an adaptation, since PHEVs will have a reduction of 200 kg, within the limit of 15% of their mass. There is no question yet of taxing electric vehicles.

For the other penalty, that of CO2, as expected, the trigger threshold is lowered, again by 5 grams. The tax will start from 118 g/km of CO2. And the progressiveness of the amounts is reinforced, this time increasing to €60,000, compared to €50,000 currently.

So for the same model already affected by the weight penalty, the CO2 penalty will increase. Be careful here too with certain simple hybrid models.

For highly polluting vehicles, the government is completely removing the penalty cap at 50% of the vehicle acquisition amount.