What is road tax? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of road tax in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of road tax

road taxnoun
thuế đường bộ
/ˈrəʊd tæks//ˈrəʊd tæks/

Where does the word road tax come from?

The term "road tax" originally referred to a fee charged in the United Kingdom during the 1920s to motor vehicle owners for the maintenance and construction of public roads. It was actually a misnomer, as the tax was not solely for the upkeep of roads but also helped fund other transportation infrastructure and services such as street lighting, traffic control, and public transport subsidies. In 1937, the tax was renamed the "Road Fund Licence" to accurately reflect its broader scope. However, the term "road tax" has persisted in colloquial usage, albeit inaccurately, as the current version of this fee in the UK is now known as vehicle excise duty (VED). In other English-speaking countries, similar taxes have had different names, such as "motor vehicle annual registration fees" in Australia and "registration fees" in New Zealand.

Example of vocabulary road taxnamespace

Drivers in the UK are required to pay an annual fee known as road tax, also commonly referred to as vehicle excise duty, in order to legally operate their cars on the road.
John forgetfully neglected to renew his road tax, resulting in a hefty fine and the impounding of his car until the overdue fee was paid.
The budget proposed by the government will include an increase in road tax, which is expected to generate additional revenue for road maintenance and infrastructure improvements.
The new electric vehicles introduced by the automotive industry do not require road tax since they produce zero emissions.
The amount of road tax paid by a driver depends on the type and age of their car.