Owners of nearly 60 car models across more than 20 manufacturers are set to face a sharp increase in first-year road tax from April 2026, with charges rising to £5,690. The increase affects vehicles with the highest carbon dioxide emissions and follows wider changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) introduced by the Government.
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First-year VED for the most polluting petrol and diesel cars has increased by £200, up from £5,490, after a significant rise introduced in April 2025. The top rate applies only to vehicles emitting more than 255g of CO₂ per kilometre, while first-year charges across all cars range from £10 for zero-emission models to £5,690 for the highest emitters.
Average petrol and diesel cars will face lower, but still notable, first-year costs. Vehicles with typical petrol emissions of around 143g/km will be charged £560, while diesel cars averaging 164g/km will incur £1,360. Electric vehicles are now also subject to VED, following the removal of their previous exemption, with further road charging reforms expected later in the decade.
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For cars already registered, annual road tax remains considerably lower, though it will still rise slightly. From April, the standard rate for the second year onwards will increase from £195 to £200. The changes are intended to reflect emissions levels more closely, but they have prompted concern among motorists about the growing cost of owning higher-emission vehicles.
