April 12, 2026 in United Kingdom — Electric vehicles in the UK have had a rough few years when it comes to road tax. After years of being completely exempt from vehicle excise duty (VED), EVs now pay the same standard rate as petrol and diesel cars. The change came in April 2025, and it caught many buyers off guard who had expected lifetime road tax savings when they purchased their EV. This guide covers exactly what electric car owners pay in road tax in 2026, how the rates are calculated, and what the future holds.
What Do Electric Vehicles Pay in Road Tax in 2026?
As of April 2025, electric vehicles pay the same standard VED rate as petrol and diesel cars: £195 per year. This applies to all EVs registered from April 2020 onwards with CO2 emissions of 1g/km or more. For zero-emission EVs (pure electric), the first-year rate is £0 — but after the first year, the standard £195 rate applies.
Before April 2025, electric vehicles registered from 2017 onwards paid £0 in road tax indefinitely. This exemption was removed to equalise the tax treatment of all vehicle types as EV uptake increased.
VED Rate Changes for Electric Vehicles — Timeline
The road tax treatment of EVs has changed significantly over the past decade:
| Period | EV VED Treatment |
|---|---|
| 2005–2017 | £0 annual rate (first year and subsequent years) |
| 2017–March 2025 | £0 in first year; £0 indefinitely after (post-2017 rule) |
| April 2025 onwards | £0 first year; then £195/year standard rate |
First-Year EV Road Tax Rates 2026
When you first register an electric vehicle, you pay a first-year rate based on CO2 emissions. For zero-emission EVs (pure electric with 0g/km CO2), the first-year rate is £0. After the first year, the standard rate of £195 per year applies.
For plug-in hybrids with some CO2 emissions, the first-year rate varies by emission band:
- 0g/km (pure electric): £0 first year
- 1–50g/km: £10 first year, then £195/year
- 51–75g/km: £30 first year, then £195/year
- 76–90g/km: £130 first year, then £195/year
Pre-April 2017 Electric Vehicles
For electric vehicles registered before April 2017, the old CO2-based system still applies. These vehicles were taxed based on their official CO2 emissions, which for most EVs meant either £0 or a very low band. If your pre-2017 EV shows 0g/km CO2, it may still qualify for the £0 annual rate under the legacy system.
To check your specific rate, use the GOV.UK vehicle tax check with your registration number.
EV Road Tax vs Petrol/Diesel — Cost Comparison 2026
Despite the 2025 changes, EVs still offer some road tax advantages over high-emission vehicles:
| Vehicle Type | First Year | Annual Renewal | 10-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric (0g/km) | £0 | £195 | £1,950 |
| Petrol (130g/km) | £220 | £195 | £2,170 |
| Petrol (170g/km) | £680 | £195 | £2,630 |
| Diesel (200g/km) | £1,705 | £195 | £3,655 |
For EVs registered post-April 2017, the £0 first-year rate saves £195 compared to a standard petrol car (£220 first year). Over 10 years, an EV pays £1,950 in road tax versus £2,170 for a typical petrol car — a £220 saving.
This makes company car EVs significantly cheaper to run from a tax perspective, even if the personal VED savings are now reduced. A higher-rate taxpayer with a £50,000 EV pays around £300 in BiK tax in 2025/26 (3% of £50,000 × 20%).
Use our UK car tax calculator to compare road tax costs across electric, petrol, diesel, and hybrid vehicles before you buy.