...but new models may be exempt

Affairs (Defra) have said that councils should be stricter and impose pollution charges on any diesel sold before September 2015. This would mean up to 10 million vehicles could be affected.

Ministers are also considering tax hikes for new diesel cars in the autumn Budget.

Campaigners say this could come via reforms to Vehicle Excise Duty, which is currently based on carbon dioxide emissions. This can still favour diesel cars, which tend to be more fuel efficient than petrol engines.

The Government made a fleeting mention of this in last month’s Budget, when it confirmed it was looking at the ‘appropriate tax treatment for diesel vehicles’.

In the pipeline: New charges MOTORISTS who have just bought new, more environmentally friendly diesel vehicles may escape the latest crackdown – but could be hit by higher car taxes in future. Councils are likely to impose pollution fees on drivers of...