The current annual car tax in the UK is a freaky thing. For cars registered before March 2001, it's a payment based on engine size (smaller or larger than 1.5

The current annual car tax in the UK is a freaky thing. For cars registered before March 2001, it's a payment based on engine size (smaller or larger than 1.55 litres); couldn't tell if that's aimed at perceived wealth, pollution, or just leftover because that's how it was back when those cars were new. March 2001 to March 2017, it's a payment based on CO2 emissions. Pollution based. April 2017 to present day, it's a payment in the first year based on CO2 emissions, and each year after that a fixed rate based on fuel type only, EXCEPT that if the list price was over 40000 GBP in which case it's a bit higher for the 2nd to 6th years only. So pollution based for the first year, and then a short period of perceived wealth based, and then just a poll tax. Come on UK, pick one! Are we taxing this based on pollution, apparent wealth or just plain poll? Oh yes, also; if your vehicle was registered in 1983 or earlier, you can register it as exempt from this tax entirely. A UK nod to encourage classic car enthusiasts and people who are just really good at car maintenance, I guess! It changes every so often. There was a time when this annual tax had nothing to do with CO2 emissions; that was judged to then be something that should be discouraged by means of this tax, so it changed. If weight of vehicle is now a meaningful factor, an obvious step is to make this tax higher for heavier vehicles.