Labour Slams All Drivers With New Road Tax Hikes and Mileage Fees

Paul Riverbank, 2/8/2026Britain hikes road, EV taxes—every driver faces higher bills, new mileage charges, and tighter scrutiny.

Beginning in April 2026, drivers can expect a nudge upwards on their standard road tax bill. The rates, tethered to inflation, will climb in unison with the broader economy. That may sound technical, but what it means for motorists is simple: running a car, van, or even a motorcycle is about to get pricier. The government still weighs up factors such as when your vehicle was registered, its emissions output, and how much it weighs, so no one faces exactly the same bill. It’s the sort of incremental rise that, over a few years, quietly reshapes household budgets.

But the more dramatic departure concerns electric vehicles—those once-vaunted escape routes from petrol dependency and punitive taxes. As electric cars carve out a larger share of Britain’s roads, ministers are moving to ensure their drivers start footing more of the bill for road upkeep. Previously, owning an electric car came with the added satisfaction of dodging certain duties, a perk meant to tempt consumers away from combustion engines. That free ride is over.

April 2025 marks the point where electric vehicles will face the same standard road tax as their petrol and diesel counterparts—a symbolic end to the “tax holiday” that’s defined the last decade of green motoring incentives. Yet, that’s not the only twist. Fast forward to 2028: the Treasury plans to introduce Electric Vehicle Excise Duty—or eVED—an entirely fresh charge that targets miles travelled in electric and plug-in hybrid cars. The headline numbers look modest at first glance: 3p per mile for pure electrics, 1.5p for plug-in hybrids.

Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson, the man tasked with translating these dry fiscal levers into public policy, insists the aim is fairness. “eVED will ensure all car drivers contribute, but will still maintain important incentives to switch to an electric vehicle,” he explained when pressed for justification. The government’s pitch is straightforward: the new scheme will slot into the existing tax system; there’s no requirement for intrusive tracking devices or new paperwork. If all goes according to plan, drivers will see the mileage charge tacked onto their yearly tax statement, almost as if it’s been there all along.

To many, particularly those who bought an electric car expecting a long-term bargain, this shift stings. Some see it as a step backward, potentially undermining attempts to “go green” just as electric cars were gathering momentum. Voices from within various owners’ groups have surfaced, urging ministers to reconsider. The government, aware of the brewing discontent, stressed in its official eVED consultation that nothing as alarming as on-board “trackers” would be installed, nor would busy drivers have to navigate a separate bureaucracy to report their travel. Still, concern lingers.

Amid all this, an independent MP, James McMurdock, pressed for more explanation in Parliament—would the broader structure of road tax finally be overhauled? Treasury’s response was blunt: “The government has no current plans to review this structure.” This means that the patchwork of charges dependent on age, emissions, or vehicle weight remain intact for now.

A further tweak comes for those eyeing high-end cars. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that, beginning April 2026, only vehicles with sticker prices topping £50,000 will be stung by the Expensive Car Supplement, up from the current £40,000 ceiling. It’s a subtle shift, but one that may make showroom choices slightly less fraught for buyers on the cusp.

If there’s a unifying theme to these new policies, it’s that the government intends to keep the road fund topped up even as the old flow of fuel duty dries up—a consequence of Britain’s steady retreat from fossil fuels. The message, delivered with little fanfare but far-reaching consequences, is clear: going forward, every driver, every journey, will increasingly count toward the cost of keeping UK roads fit for purpose.

In practical terms? Budget for higher fees come 2026, regardless of what’s parked in your driveway. If you’ve invested in an electric or plug-in hybrid, be ready for an adjustment: not just regular road tax, but a tally on every mile from 2028 onward. Consultations are open and the details may yet shift, but it’s hard to ignore the direction of travel. For British motorists, the open road has rarely come with more caveats—or closer scrutiny of every journey made.

Major shifts are afoot regarding car taxation across Britain, and it’s the sort of policy overhaul that stands to affect virtually every motorist, whether you’re clinging to your trusty petrol hatchback or cruising in a gleaming zero-emission SUV. After years of speculation, government officials have finally provided some clarity, confirming that changes to Vehicle Excise Duty—known to most as “road tax”—are on the horizon. The days of a uniform system are fading, and what comes next warrants close attention.Beginning in April 2026, drivers can expect a nudge upwards on their standard road tax bill. The rates, tethered to inflation, will climb in unison with the broader economy. That may sound technical, but what it means for motorists is simple: running a car, van, or even a motorcycle is about to get pricier. The government still weighs up factors such as when your vehicle was registered, its emissions output, and how much it weighs, so no one faces exactly the same bill. It’s the sort of incremental rise that, over a few years, quietly reshapes household budgets.But the more dramatic departure concerns electric vehicles—those once-vaunted escape routes from petrol dependency and punitive taxes. As electric cars carve out a larger share of Britain’s roads, ministers are moving to ensure their drivers start footing more of the bill for road upkeep. Previously, owning an electric car came with the added satisfaction of dodging certain duties, a perk meant to tempt consumers away from combustion engines. That free ride is over.April 2025 marks the point where electric vehicles will face the same standard road tax as their petrol and diesel counterparts—a symbolic end to the “tax holiday” that’s defined the last decade of green motoring incentives. Yet, that’s not the only twist. Fast forward to 2028: the Treasury plans to introduce Electric Vehicle Excise Duty—or eVED—an entirely fresh charge that targets miles travelled in electric and plug-in hybrid cars. The headline numbers look modest at first glance: 3p per mile for pure electrics, 1.5p for plug-in hybrids.Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson, the man tasked with translating these dry fiscal levers into public policy, insists the aim is fairness. “eVED will ensure all car drivers contribute, but will still maintain important incentives to switch to an electric vehicle,” he explained when pressed for justification. The government’s pitch is straightforward: the new scheme will slot into the existing tax system; there’s no requirement for intrusive tracking devices or new paperwork. If all goes according to plan, drivers will see the mileage charge tacked onto their yearly tax statement, almost as if it’s been there all along.To many, particularly those who bought an electric car expecting a long-term bargain, this shift stings. Some see it as a step backward, potentially undermining attempts to “go green” just as electric cars were gathering momentum. Voices from within various owners’ groups have surfaced, urging ministers to reconsider. The government, aware of the brewing discontent, stressed in its official eVED consultation that nothing as alarming as on-board “trackers” would be installed, nor would busy drivers have to navigate a separate bureaucracy to report their travel. Still, concern lingers.Amid all this, an independent MP, James McMurdock, pressed for more explanation in Parliament—would the broader structure of road tax finally be overhauled? Treasury’s response was blunt: “The government has no current plans to review this structure.” This means that the patchwork of charges dependent on age, emissions, or vehicle weight remain intact for now.A further tweak comes for those eyeing high-end cars. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that, beginning April 2026, only vehicles with sticker prices topping £50,000 will be stung by the Expensive Car Supplement, up from the current £40,000 ceiling. It’s a subtle shift, but one that may make showroom choices slightly less fraught for buyers on the cusp.If there’s a unifying theme to these new policies, it’s that the government intends to keep the road fund topped up even as the old flow of fuel duty dries up—a consequence of Britain’s steady retreat from fossil fuels. The message, delivered with little fanfare but far-reaching consequences, is clear: going forward, every driver, every journey, will increasingly count toward the cost of keeping UK roads fit for purpose.In practical terms? Budget for higher fees come 2026, regardless of what’s parked in your driveway. If you’ve invested in an electric or plug-in hybrid, be ready for an adjustment: not just regular road tax, but a tally on every mile from 2028 onward. Consultations are open and the details may yet shift, but it’s hard to ignore the direction of travel. For British motorists, the open road has rarely come with more caveats—or closer scrutiny of every journey made.