VEHICLE TAX TRAP AHEAD

Car buyers face paying almost £2,000 in unexpected taxes due to the global shortage of microchips that has driven up the cost of vehicle production. Drivers buying a car worth £40,000 or more must pay an annual vehicle tax surcharge of £335 for five years. The tax is based on the “list price”, the published price before any discounts. Experts have said the chip shortage has inflated these, which will snare more in the trap. Daniel Briggs of car sellers Motorfinity said a number of his clients had been caught out.