Drivers of larger vehicles in London, such as SUVs and 4x4s, could soon face new weight-based taxes, tighter regulations, and higher parking fees. This follows a London Assembly vote aimed at tackling the growing number of oversized cars on the city’s roads.
The motion, which passed by 14 votes to eight, calls on Mayor Sadiq Khan to urge the Department for Transport to impose stricter limits on passenger vehicle size and bonnet height. It also requests that HM Treasury introduce progressive taxes based on vehicle weight within Vehicle Excise Duty and encourages London boroughs to consider higher parking charges for larger vehicles.
Labour Assembly Member Elly Baker, who proposed the motion, argued that London’s streets were not designed for large cars like SUVs, which now make up a third of vehicles on the road. “Their size, weight, and high bonnets increase risks to pedestrians and cyclists, reduce parking space availability, and cause more road damage,” she said.
Green Party Assembly Member Caroline Russell, who seconded the motion, warned that SUVs are growing bigger each year, worsening congestion and posing greater danger to vulnerable road users. She also highlighted research showing that half of UK cars are now too large for standard parking bays, a trend known as “carspreading,” which raises safety concerns.
Russell explained that pedestrians struck by high-bonnet vehicles are more likely to suffer fatal or severe injuries because they are pulled under the vehicle, unlike with lower cars where they are more likely to be thrown aside.
The motion also pointed out that heavier cars cause more road wear, contributing to London’s £1.9 billion road maintenance backlog.
However, Conservative Assembly Members strongly opposed the move, arguing it unfairly targets families and motorists. Susan Hall criticised the motion as typical of “the left trying to dictate what people drive,” while Peter Fortune noted that popular electric vehicles, such as the Tesla Model Y and Nissan Ariya, are heavier than traditional cars. Shaun Bailey called it “an attack on families,” and Neil Garratt described it as a “Trojan horse” to push people off the roads.
Defending the proposal, Baker insisted the Assembly must make tough decisions to prioritise public safety. Liberal Democrat Gareth Roberts added that exploring ways to make roads safer “is not necessarily a bad thing.”
The motion will now be passed to the Mayor to consider further action based on the Assembly’s recommendations.
