Car VRT ‘discourages safety features’

CRIPPLING Government tax on new cars discourages essential safety features being fitted, an Oireachtas committee said yesterday.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry claimed Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) imposed on technology like airbags and side-impact bars can add thousands of euro to the overall purchase price.

SIMI chief executive Cyril McHugh told the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise and Small Business: “Subjecting safety features on a 1900cc family car incurs VRT at 30% and adds 43% to the cost.