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Q01278: What are the changes to vehicle tax for electric and low emission vehicles from 2025?


Answer
From 1 April 2025, drivers of electric and low emission cars, vans and motorcycles will need to pay vehicle tax in the same way as drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles. This change will apply to both new and existing vehicles.
 
This new measure effectively removes band A under the existing VED system which is currently £0. Vehicles in this band will be required to move to the first band where a rate becomes payable.
 
How the changes will affect your vehicle:
 
Electric and low emission cars registered on or after 1 April 2025 – you will need to pay the lowest first year rate of vehicle tax (which applies to vehicles with CO2 emissions 1 to 50g/km). From the second tax payment onwards, these vehicles will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025).
 
Electric and low emission cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 – you will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025).
 
Electric and low emission cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017– these vehicles will move to the first band that has a VED value. This is £20 but is subject to change.
 
Hybrid and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) – the £10 annual discount for hybrid and AFVs will be removed, and the rate you will pay will depend on when the vehicle was first registered. If the vehicle was:
  • registered before 1 April 2017 - this rate will depend on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions (check the current rates for this vehicle)
  • registered on or after 1 April 2017 - you will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025)
Electric vans – most electric vans will move to the standard annual rate for light goods vehicles. Check the current rates for this vehicle.
 
Electric motorcycles – electric motorcycles and tricycles will move to the annual rate for the smallest engine size. Check the current rates for this vehicle.
 
Additional rate (expensive car supplement) – for new electric vehicles with a list price exceeding £40,000, you will now need to pay the expensive car supplement from the second tax payment onwards. This applies to vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025.
 
Above information supplied by DVLA/.gov.

Related questions


Answer

From 1 April 2025, drivers of electric and low emission cars, vans and motorcycles will need to pay vehicle tax in the same way as drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles. This change will apply to both new and existing vehicles.
 
This new measure effectively removes band A under the existing VED system which is currently £0. Vehicles in this band will be required to move to the first band where a rate becomes payable.
 
How the changes will affect your vehicle:
 
Electric and low emission cars registered on or after 1 April 2025 – you will need to pay the lowest first year rate of vehicle tax (which applies to vehicles with CO2 emissions 1 to 50g/km). From the second tax payment onwards, these vehicles will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025).
 
Electric and low emission cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 – you will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025).
 
Electric and low emission cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017– these vehicles will move to the first band that has a VED value. This is £20 but is subject to change.
 
Hybrid and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) – the £10 annual discount for hybrid and AFVs will be removed, and the rate you will pay will depend on when the vehicle was first registered. If the vehicle was:
  • registered before 1 April 2017 - this rate will depend on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions (check the current rates for this vehicle)
  • registered on or after 1 April 2017 - you will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025)
Electric vans – most electric vans will move to the standard annual rate for light goods vehicles. Check the current rates for this vehicle.
 
Electric motorcycles – electric motorcycles and tricycles will move to the annual rate for the smallest engine size. Check the current rates for this vehicle.
 
Additional rate (expensive car supplement) – for new electric vehicles with a list price exceeding £40,000, you will now need to pay the expensive car supplement from the second tax payment onwards. This applies to vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025.
 
Above information supplied by DVLA/.gov.


Answer

You can report unlicensed vehicles online through the DVLA website, see website in related information.

You can also contact your local police (via 101) although the procedure will vary from force to force. In some areas you will have to contact the local authority direct as they have a responsibility to remove such vehicles. In other force areas you need to contact the local police force first who in turn will contact the local authority. Your local police station will be able to advise you.

In all cases you will need the make and model of the car, the registration number and the location.


Answer

A number of vehicles are exempt from the requirement to pay tax - the main ones are:

  • Vehicles used by someone who is disabled
  • Electrically assisted pedal cycles
  • Vehicles going to/from a pre-arranged MOT - see Q360
  • Police, fire and ambulance vehicles
  • Mobility scooters/invalid carriages
  • Historic vehicles - vehicles constructed 40 or more years ago
  • Electric vehicles
  • Mowing machines
  • Steam-powered vehicles
  • Vehicles used for agriculture, horticulture and forestry
  • Gritters and snowploughs


Answer

Yes. Any driver who drives a vehicle, whether it belongs to them or not, has a responsibility to ensure that they are insured to drive the vehicle, that the vehicle is fully road legal, taxed and MOT'd.

If you are stopped by the police it is you as the driver who will face prosecution. Under certain circumstances the keeper may also be prosecuted.

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Answer

Mechanically propelled vehicles on a public road are required to display number plates (number plate in the case of motorcycles). Covering the vehicle could prevent them from being seen and this would be an offence.

It would be legal to cover the vehicle as long as the registration plates could be seen. Clear plastic panels could be used in the appropriate places to enable the registration plates to be visible.

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Question

Q01278: What are the changes to vehicle tax for electric and low emission vehicles from 2025?


Answer

From 1 April 2025, drivers of electric and low emission cars, vans and motorcycles will need to pay vehicle tax in the same way as drivers of petrol and diesel vehicles. This change will apply to both new and existing vehicles.
 
This new measure effectively removes band A under the existing VED system which is currently £0. Vehicles in this band will be required to move to the first band where a rate becomes payable.
 
How the changes will affect your vehicle:
 
Electric and low emission cars registered on or after 1 April 2025 – you will need to pay the lowest first year rate of vehicle tax (which applies to vehicles with CO2 emissions 1 to 50g/km). From the second tax payment onwards, these vehicles will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025).
 
Electric and low emission cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 – you will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025).
 
Electric and low emission cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017– these vehicles will move to the first band that has a VED value. This is £20 but is subject to change.
 
Hybrid and alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) – the £10 annual discount for hybrid and AFVs will be removed, and the rate you will pay will depend on when the vehicle was first registered. If the vehicle was:
  • registered before 1 April 2017 - this rate will depend on the vehicle’s CO2 emissions (check the current rates for this vehicle)
  • registered on or after 1 April 2017 - you will pay the standard rate (£195 for 2025)
Electric vans – most electric vans will move to the standard annual rate for light goods vehicles. Check the current rates for this vehicle.
 
Electric motorcycles – electric motorcycles and tricycles will move to the annual rate for the smallest engine size. Check the current rates for this vehicle.
 
Additional rate (expensive car supplement) – for new electric vehicles with a list price exceeding £40,000, you will now need to pay the expensive car supplement from the second tax payment onwards. This applies to vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025.
 
Above information supplied by DVLA/.gov.


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