The La Laguna City Council will give precedence to tax incentives for electric vehicles over those more than 25 years old, which are known to emit a significant amount of harmful gases. The municipal Government Board has sanctioned the amendment of the fiscal ordinance pertaining to the tax on mechanically propelled vehicles, established in 2011.
The Finance and Economic Services Councillor, Paqui Rivero, clarifies that this update, effectively eliminating tax benefits for vehicles older than 25 years, “is aligned with environmental considerations, aiming to enhance sustainability and reduce CO2 emissions, and corresponds with other initiatives sanctioned by this Council to promote the use of non-polluting energy sources.”
In this context, back in 2016, the plenary session ratified a modification of the ordinance to implement tax reductions of 75%, 50%, and 25% according to the type of vehicle engines and their environmental impact, applicable for a duration of six years from the vehicle’s registration date.
“On the basis of these criteria, it seems unreasonable to continue offering a discount for vehicles exceeding 25 years in age, as they are among the most pollutive,” comments the councillor. “We must prioritise support for clean energy usage and will consider increasing the bonus for electric vehicles as soon as our financial capacity allows. Numerous councils are already implementing similar measures,” she adds.
The revocation of tax benefits outlined in the current ordinance for vehicles at least 25 years old also seeks to “encourage more conscientious use and management by users, as we often encounter old, unused vehicles abandoned on public roads. Previously, this had not incurred any additional cost for the owner, and this scenario results in environmental hazards and a lack of parking spaces that we aim to address.”
Moreover, Paqui Rivero highlights that this initiative is also connected to accident prevention, referencing a report by AECA-ITV that reveals that vehicles exceeding 11 years in age are involved in a larger proportion of road accidents, a trend that escalates with advancing age.
Ultimately, continuing to provide the discount for vehicles older than 25 years would not only contradict the environmental policies being pursued by the Corporation but would also create inequitable tax treatment in comparison to other taxpayers, without valid justification, says the Councillor for Finance and Economic Services.
21,747 vehicles over 30 years old
Data from the Canary Islands Statistics Institute (ISTAC) indicates that in 2023 La Laguna had a total of 134,423 registered vehicles (averaging 845.25 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants). Of this total, 21,747 vehicles were over 30 years old.
From this information, it can be deduced that in La Laguna, more than 91,000 vehicles operate on petrol, 37,820 are diesel-powered, and merely 3,341 vehicles utilise alternative energy sources: electric (totaling 765), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuels, and hydrogen.
In addition, a study conducted by the Canarian Regional Federation of car importers and dealers (Fredica) reveals that the Archipelago is one of the regions with the oldest vehicle fleets in Spain, averaging over 14.5 years of age, and cautions about the implications of this outdated fleet regarding accident rates, fuel consumption, and elevated emissions.
