Do Electric Cars Pay Road Tax in the UK? EV Road Tax
New government means new rules. And that’s not excluding road tax.
With this, prospective electric car drivers and current EV owners are asking: Do electric cars pay road tax in the UK?
Today, we answer everything and more surrounding electric cars and road tax. Buckle up.
Quick summary:
- After a decade and a half of exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty, all electric cars registered after April 2017 are now unfortunately subject to road tax (VED) in the UK. However, all is not lost: new battery EVs registered after April 2025 pay the lowest road tax amount of £10 for the first year.
- EVs are also subject to the Expensive Car Supplement, sometimes referred to as Luxury Car Tax, on electric cars with a list price of over £50,000. Previously, the Expensive Car Supplement was for electric vehicles worth £40,000, but it was raised by £10,000 in the 2025 Autumn Budget.
- After 2028, electric cars will be subject to road tax (VED) and pay-per-mile tax at 3p per mile (eVED).
What is road tax?
The amount of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) – more commonly referred to as road tax or car tax – payable depends on several factors, including the type of vehicle, its CO2 emissions, and the date of its registration.
Historically, road tax was primarily based on the vehicle’s engine size. However, since 2001, it has been linked to carbon dioxide emissions.
Now, the general rule of thumb is that the higher the CO2 emissions emitted from your vehicle, the higher the road tax.
Do electric cars have to pay road tax in 2026?
Sadly, if you’re new to the electric world, you’ve missed the EV road tax exemption. Now, all battery electric cars are required to pay road tax, as per the changes that came into effect on 1st April 2025.
That said, battery electric cars will pay the lowest VED rate of £10 in the first year. So, the perks of going electric are still available.
Electric car road tax rates:
UK Electric Car Road Tax Rates (2026-2027) |
|||
| Age of the electric car | Registration period | Special first-year tax rate | Annual tax |
| Brand new EVs | Registered after 1 April 2025 | £10 | £200 (after the first year) |
| Pre-registered EVs | Registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 | N/A | £200 |
| Older EVs | Registered between 1 March 2001 and March 2017 | N/A | £20 |
But what about if your EV is a premium vehicle: do you have to pay the Expensive Car Supplement?
When purchasing a vehicle with a value or ‘list price’ of over £40,000, an additional road tax fee must be paid. Named the expensive car supplement, a government-enforced premium rate of £390 must be paid every year for five years from the second time your vehicle is taxed.
Previously, you didn’t have to pay road tax on electric cars over £40,000, nor pay the additional premium vehicle fee for vehicles over £40,000.
Unfortunately, since 1st April 2025, electric vehicles over £50,000 will be subject to the expensive supplement tax (also known as the luxury car tax), with the amount increased from £40,000 to £50,000.
How much is road tax in the UK now?
The 2026 tax payment rates for cars registered on or after 1st April 2017 for the first year are:
CO2 emissions |
Diesel cars that meet the RDE2 standard, petrol cars and zero-emission cars |
Other diesel cars |
| 0 g/km | £10 | £10 |
| 1 to 50 g/km | £110 | £130 |
| 51 to 75 g/km | £130 | £270 |
| 76 to 90 g/km | £270 | £350 |
| 91 to 100 g/km | £350 | £390 |
| 101 to 110 g/km | £390 | £440 |
| 111 to 130 g/km | £440 | £540 |
| 131 to 150 g/km | £540 | £1,360 |
| 151 to 170 g/km | £1,360 | £2,190 |
| 171 to 190 g/km | £2,190 | £3,300 |
| 191 to 225 g/km | £3,300 | £4,680 |
| 226 to 255 g/km | £4,680 | £5,490 |
| Over 255 g/km | £5,490 | £5,490 |
The current vehicle tax payments for the second year and onwards are:
| Fuel type | Single 12-month payment |
| Petrol, diesel, electric and alternative | £195 |
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