Owners of nearly 60 car models from two dozen manufacturers could face a £5,690 road tax charge in April as first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rises for the 2026 financial year. The increase of £200 from £5,490 affects popular brands including Audi, Ford and BMW.
The rise follows a significant hike in April 2025, when first-year VED for petrol and diesel vehicles doubled from £2,745 to £5,490. The highest rate applies only to cars emitting more than 255 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
First-year rates range from £10 for zero-emission cars to £5,690 for the highest emitters. For cars emitting even 1g/km, the charge rises to £110. The average petrol car (143g/km) will incur £560, while the average diesel car (164g/km) will cost £1,360.
Electric cars are now subject to VED for the first time, with a pay-per-mile scheme due from April 2028. For already registered cars, the annual standard rate will increase from £195 to £200 from April.
