Drivers could soon be slapped with higher taxes if their cars weigh more than others, and if they drive a petrol or diesel vehicle under new proposals.
Cardiff City Council has launched a consultation to ask residents and other interested parties to give their opinions on whether new parking measures should be introduced.
The aim of the new proposals is to modernise the system of parking permits and ensure all residents have the ability to park near their homes and places of work.
Official documents from Cardiff City Council state that they are proposing to introduce a limit on vehicles over 3,500kg in weight from getting a parking permit.
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Owners of heavier petrol and diesel vehicles could be charged more to park under new proposals
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Any vehicles over this weight would not be able to obtain a parking permit of any kind, if the new proposals were to be introduced.
The Cardiff City Council consultation questions whether certain areas of the city should have additional rules to crack down on larger vehicles over 2,400kg weight should pay more.
It states that permits should cost more for larger vehicles such as SUVs as they take up more parking space than smaller vehicles. Respondents are then asked to what extent they agree or disagree with the statement.
Another proposal questions whether vehicles that pollute more should pay more for permits since they “damage people’s health and the environment”.
Many of the most popular vehicles on the market have a kerb weight of more than 2,400kg, while some others could be banned from having a permit as their kerb weight exceeds 3,500kg.
The 2025 Land Rover Defender has a kerb weight of between 2,300kg and 2,745kg, meaning it would be subjected to additional charges, if the proposals are to be rolled out.
Other popular models could be subject to expensive charges like the Mercedes EQS SUV (2,810kg), Rolls-Royce Phantom (2,745kg), Audi SQ8 e-tron Sportback (2,650kg) and the Kia EV9 (2,501kg).
Some of the heaviest petrol or diesel vehicles could be slapped with even harsher charges to park in certain residential areas, resulting in a double price hike.
While the considerations are in an early stage of development, owners of vans and other larger vehicles could see themselves having to find alternative measures to park if they cannot get a permit.
Consultation documents state: “Permit costs are set separately by the Council every year as part of our budget process.
“We are therefore not consulting on permit prices as part of the City Parking Plan as consultations on permit prices are undertaken when the budget is set.”
The consultation also suggests banning “student-only” properties from being eligible for a parking permit since they do not pay any council tax.
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The council has not yet stated how much the new permits could potentially cost
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Other measures include residents of eligible properties being able to apply for up to two permits for their own vehicles, worth up to 240 days of parking for visitors per year.
