Josh MacAlister, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington and a serving Mountain Rescue volunteer, has welcomed the Government’s decision to exempt Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicles from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) – a change he has been actively lobbying for since entering Parliament.
Volunteer-led Search and Rescue organisations – including Mountain Rescue, Lowland Rescue, Cave Rescue and other specialist teams – are a vital part of the UK’s emergency infrastructure. They work closely with police, ambulance and fire services to save lives in the UK’s most remote and hazardous environments and form an essential component of national resilience planning.
Despite this vital role, SAR organisations receive no state funding and rely entirely on volunteers, charitable fundraising and donations. Many operate specialist off-road vehicles, often modified to carry lifesaving equipment – vehicles that, until now, were still liable for VED, placing significant financial pressure on teams with limited resources.
Josh MacAlister MP, who serves in a Mountain Rescue team in the Lake District, said:
“I’ve seen first-hand, as both an MP and a Mountain Rescue volunteer, just how essential these vehicles are – and how hard volunteer teams work to maintain them. Removing VED is a practical, common-sense change that will make a real difference to teams on the ground. It will save my team alone about £2,000 per year.
“Search and Rescue volunteers give their time, skills and courage freely. This exemption recognises their contribution and ensures more of their fundraising can go straight into lifesaving equipment, training and operations.”
There are an estimated 500 SAR vehicles operating across the UK. For many, particularly Land Rover Defenders, costs include both standard VED and the additional luxury car supplement. The estimated cost to the Treasury of the exemption is around £460,000 per year, a modest figure that delivers substantial value to teams nationwide.
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Dan Tomlinson MP, said:
“I’d like to thank Josh for his tireless campaign on this on behalf of Search and Rescue organisations in his constituency. Volunteer Search and Rescue teams are an indispensable part of our emergency response system, and their specialist vehicles are essential to reaching people in danger. Given their unique role and charitable status, it is right that these vehicles should no longer be subject to VED. This is a sensible and proportionate step that supports national resilience while easing pressure on volunteers who give their time freely.”
Mike Park, Chief Executive Officer of Mountain Rescue England & Wales and a member of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team, welcomed the Chancellor’s announcement:
“This is a hugely positive step. It means more of our fundraising can go directly into vital equipment and training for our teams across the country. Our volunteers head out in all conditions, every day of the year, this is a tremendous show of support from the government.”
The exemption requires primary legislation and is expected to come into force in 2027.
Josh MacAlister MP 