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UK Confirms £5,690 First-Year Car Tax for 59 High-Emission Models From April 2026

Ministers say the steeper first-year levy is designed to steer buyers toward electric vehicles.

Overview

  • The top first-year Vehicle Excise Duty applies to cars emitting over 255g/km CO2 and rises by £200 to £5,690 on 1 April 2026.
  • A published list names 59 models from 24 manufacturers, including Ford Ranger, Audi RS variants, Range Rover V8s, Porsche 911 Turbo, BMW X5/X6/X7 M, and Lamborghini Urus.
  • The change follows an April 2025 overhaul that sharply raised first-year bands for petrol and diesel cars under Budget plans set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.
  • For already-registered cars, the standard annual VED increases from £195 to £200 from April.
  • EV policy updates include a maintained £10 first-year VED for zero-emission cars, a higher £50,000 threshold for the expensive-car supplement on EVs from 1 April 2026, and a planned per-mile EV charge from April 2028 with rates announced but collection details yet to be set.