From 1 April 2026, Vehicle Excise Duty rates are going up again. The changes affect every car on the road — petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric. Here's what's changing, what you'll pay, and what you can do about it.
You can check your vehicle's current tax status and expiry date with our free tax check tool.
The standard rate is going up
The flat-rate annual VED that most post-2017 cars pay from their second year onwards is increasing from £195 to £200. It's a modest £5 rise, in line with RPI inflation, but it applies to millions of vehicles regardless of their emissions.
This rate covers all fuel types — petrol, diesel, hybrid, alternative fuel, and electric. If your car was registered on or after 1 April 2017, this is what you'll pay each year from the second year of ownership.
For cars registered before April 2017, the band-based rates are also increasing by £5 to £30 depending on the band. Higher-emission vehicles in bands L and M see the largest increases.
First-year rates continue to climb
If you're buying a new car in 2026/27, the first-year "showroom tax" — the one-off VED charge based on CO2 emissions at the point of registration — has risen again from the already-doubled rates introduced in April 2025.
The biggest increases hit the highest emitters:
| CO2 emissions | 2025/26 rate | 2026/27 rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0 g/km (electric) | £10 | £10 |
| 1–50 g/km | £110 | £115 |
| 51–75 g/km | £130 | £135 |
| 76–90 g/km | £270 | £280 |
| 101–110 g/km | £390 | £405 |
| 131–150 g/km | £540 | £560 |
| 171–190 g/km | £2,190 | £2,270 |
| 191–225 g/km | £3,300 | £3,420 |
| Over 255 g/km | £5,490 | £5,690 |
A new car emitting over 255 g/km now costs £5,690 in first-year road tax alone. That's more than double what it was just two years ago.
Electric vehicles: the £50,000 threshold change
This is arguably the most significant change for April 2026 and it's good news for EV buyers.
Since April 2025, electric vehicles have paid VED for the first time — £10 in the first year, then the standard rate. But many popular EVs have list prices above £40,000, which meant they were also hit with the expensive car supplement (an additional £425+ per year for five years).
From 1 April 2026, the expensive car supplement threshold for zero-emission vehicles only increases from £40,000 to £50,000. This means:
- An EV with a list price of £45,000 no longer pays the supplement
- An ICE or hybrid car at £45,000 still pays the supplement
- The change is backdated — EVs registered from April 2025 with a list price between £40,001 and £50,000 will stop paying the supplement from April 2026
This saves qualifying EV owners around £2,200 over the five-year supplement period. Popular models like the Tesla Model 3 Long Range, Volkswagen ID.4, and Hyundai Ioniq 5 fall into this price bracket.
The expensive car supplement for everyone else
For petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles, the expensive car supplement threshold remains at £40,000 list price. The annual supplement amount increases to approximately £440 (up from £425), payable for five years from the second year of registration.
That means a post-2017 car that listed at £45,000 new will cost the owner £200 (standard rate) plus £440 (supplement) = £640 per year in road tax for years 2 through 6. The supplement applies based on the original list price — not what you paid for the car second-hand.
If you're buying a used car and want to check whether it's caught by the supplement, our car check tool shows the vehicle's age and details to help you work it out. You can also check how to see if a car is currently taxed before purchasing.
Pre-2017 band rate changes
Cars registered before April 2017 use the older A-to-M band system. These rates are also increasing with RPI:
| Band | CO2 (g/km) | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 0–100 | £20 | £20 |
| B | 101–110 | £20 | £20 |
| C | 111–120 | £35 | £35 |
| D | 121–130 | £165 | £170 |
| E | 131–140 | £195 | £200 |
| F | 141–150 | £215 | £225 |
| G | 151–165 | £265 | £275 |
| H | 166–175 | £315 | £325 |
| I | 176–185 | £345 | £360 |
| J | 186–200 | £395 | £410 |
| K | 201–225 | £430 | £445 |
| L | 226–255 | £735 | £760 |
| M | Over 255 | £760 | £790 |
The lowest bands remain unchanged — pre-2017 Band A and B cars still pay just £20 per year. For a full list of the cheapest cars to tax in the UK, see our dedicated guide.
What you should do before April
- Check your tax expiry date. If it falls before 1 April, you can renew now at the current lower rate and lock in the 2025/26 prices for another 6 or 12 months. Use our tax check to find your expiry date.
- Consider timing if buying new. If you're ordering a high-emission new car, registering before 1 April means paying the current first-year rate rather than the higher 2026/27 rate. On a car over 255 g/km, that's a £200 saving on the first-year tax alone.
- Check your vehicle's emissions. Knowing your car's CO2 output helps you understand exactly which band or rate you'll pay. Our free car check shows this alongside MOT, tax, and mileage history.
- EV buyers in the £40k–£50k range: If you've been putting off an EV purchase because of the supplement, the April 2026 threshold change removes that barrier. EVs under £50,000 list price will only pay £200/year from year two — no supplement. Our guide to electric car road tax in 2026 covers EV-specific rates in detail.
The bottom line
The April 2026 changes are incremental for most drivers — a £5 rise in the standard rate. But for new car buyers, especially those looking at high-emission vehicles, the first-year rates continue to be punishingly expensive. The EV supplement threshold change is a welcome adjustment that makes mid-range electric cars more affordable to tax.
A quick tax check tells you exactly what your vehicle pays now and when it's next due. If your renewal falls in March, acting before April could save you money.