Brace yourself, UK drivers: your car tax bills are about to get a lot more expensive. Starting April 1, 2026, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates are set to rise for nearly all petrol, diesel, and electric car owners, particularly those with vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017. But here's where it gets controversial: the biggest changes target cars from this specific era, with owners facing a sliding scale of fees based on their vehicle's emissions. Is this a fair move to encourage greener driving, or an unnecessary burden on already stretched motorists? Let’s dive in.
Why the sudden hike? HMRC has confirmed these increases are part of a standard annual uprating, tied to Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation. While this might sound like just another bureaucratic adjustment, the impact on your wallet could be significant. Cars are grouped into 13 tax bands based on their CO2 emissions, and this Spring, annual costs are jumping anywhere from £5 to £30. And this is the part most people miss: the highest increases hit the most polluting vehicles, with Band M cars (emitting over 255g/km of CO2) seeing bills rise from £760 to £790 per year. Band L vehicles (226-255g/km) aren’t far behind, with a £25 jump to £760 annually.
Even lower-polluting cars aren’t immune. Bands F, G, and H will see £10 increases, while Bands D and E (121-140g/km) face £5 hikes. But here’s a silver lining: clean vehicles emitting under 120g/km of CO2 are off the hook, with their VED rates remaining unchanged from 2025. This move seems to reward eco-friendly choices, but is it enough to offset the financial strain on others?
Let’s break down the new VED bands for clarity:
- A (Up to 100g/km): £20
- B (101-110g/km): £20
- C (111-120g/km): £35
- D (121-130g/km): £170
- E (131-140g/km): £200
- F (141-150g/km): £225
- G (151-165g/km): £275
- H (166-175g/km): £325
- I (176-185g/km): £360
- J (186-200g/km): £410
- K (201-225g/km): £445
- L (226-255g/km): £760
- M (Over 255g/km): £790
VED is a legal requirement, meaning you can’t avoid these charges if you want to keep driving. But the question remains: are these increases a necessary step toward reducing emissions, or a financial overreach? We want to hear from you. Do you think these changes are fair, or do they unfairly penalize certain drivers? Share your thoughts in the comments below—let’s spark a conversation!
