Cardiff votes to hike parking costs for SUVs and larger vehicles as drivers face 'Land Rover tax'

The reasoning behind the move was to address the sizing issues of these larger vehicles, with the council stating that they were a "danger to other road users".

Responses to a council consultation found that 66 per cent of residents were in favour of higher permit charges for larger vehicles that weigh more than 2,400kg.

To account for the growing move to zero emission vehicles and to avoid curbing uptake, the 2,400kg limit will later be reduced to 2,000kg for non-electric vehicles.

The largest vehicles on the road, which have a revenue weight of more than 3,500kg, will not be able to apply for residential permits at all.

Campaigners have long called for local authorities to tackle the scourge of "carspreading" and "autobesity" on the nation's roads. The new charges have also been referred to as the "Land Rover tax".

Transport groups have also praised Cardiff for taking the steps to crack down on larger vehicles that could pose safety risks to other road users.

Councillor Dan De'Ath, who is responsible for transport, pointed to the French capital of Paris, which voted to triple parking charges for SUV owners in February last year.

Since the restrictions were introduced, the use of larger SUV-type vehicles has dropped by two-thirds as motorists turn their backs on vehicles that will attract a far higher parking rate.

The Labour councillor for the Plasnewydd ward added: "We don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask people driving those kinds of vehicles to pay a little bit more for road wear and the extra space they take up.

He also clarified that the council was not "banning" any vehicles, but rather encouraging motorists to change their behaviours to reduce the number of "very heavy American-style vehicles" on the Welsh capital's roads.

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SUVs now make up around 60 per cent of new vehicle sales in the UK, with drivers attracted to the large size, storage capacity and, in some cases, extra seats.

Cardiff City Council's consultation response cited data which shows that petrol and diesel SUVs burn around 20 per cent more fuel.

There was also support for a proposal that more polluting vehicles, like diesel cars, should pay more for parking permits around the city.

Commenting on the new law changes, Iain Reid, head of editorial at Carwow, said the majority of people are unaware of how much their car actually weighs, and generally isn't considered when buying a new vehicle.

He noted that customer interest in SUVs has soared by around 20 per cent year-on-year, far outpacing interest in hatchbacks (4.7 per cent) and saloons (7.5 per cent).

Brands are also reacting to this trend, with new SUVs being released at an ever-growing rate as more drivers opt for larger vehicles.

Mr Reid added: "The term 'SUV' itself covers a huge range of vehicles from compact hybrids and small electric family cars through to large 4x4s.

"It's a diverse category with very different environmental credentials, yet all too often grouped together under the same label of 'oversized and highly polluting vehicles'."