Grand Council AG Aargau transport tax to be realigned after 50 years

Road tax for vehicles in the canton of Aargau will be recalculated from 2025. This was decided by the Grand Council on Tuesday. In future, the basis of assessment will be a combination of weight and power. However, there will be no eco-tax.

Parliament approved the corresponding transport tax law after the second consultation by 113 votes to 20. The no votes came from the SVP parliamentary group.

After 54 years, the law marks a departure from calculating the tax according to engine capacity ("tax horsepower"). The new traffic tax regulation applies to passenger cars, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, motorhomes and minibuses. Electric vehicles are currently given preferential tax treatment.

In the opinion of the majority of parliament and the government council, this calculation is no longer up to date. The SVP was clearly defeated in its motion to refer the bill back to the cantonal government. The FDP and the Center Party supported the revision. The SP, Greens and GLP also supported the bill, but for "pragmatic reasons", as it was put.

Same amount of money in the canton's coffers

On balance, the canton will receive the same amount of money as a result of the reorganization of the transport tax. Owners of larger family cars and commercial vehicles will tend to pay slightly more.

This is a tax on road use, said Construction Director Stephan Attiger (FDP). It is not an incentive tax like the mineral oil tax. Aargau needs a tax that is perceived as "fair". Weight and performance are real criteria. Heavy vehicles with high performance would be more expensive in the future.