Quick Read
- From April 2026, the UK’s first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for high-emission vehicles will increase to £5,690.
- The new tax applies to 59 petrol and diesel car models emitting over 255g/km of CO₂.
- Affected vehicles include luxury cars, sports cars, large SUVs, and some pick-up trucks from brands like Audi, BMW, and Land Rover.
- Electric vehicles (EVs) will no longer be exempt from VED starting April 2026.
- A pay-per-mile road pricing scheme is planned for 2028, affecting all types of vehicles.
LONDON (Azat TV) – Drivers across the United Kingdom are bracing for a substantial increase in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates, set to take effect from April 2026, which will see the first-year car tax for the most polluting vehicles soar to £5,690. This significant hike impacts nearly 60 petrol and diesel models, including a range of luxury cars, high-performance sports cars, and large SUVs, as the government continues its push to discourage the sale of high-emission vehicles.
The impending changes, which represent the latest escalation in VED, aim to make the purchase of carbon-intensive vehicles considerably more expensive. The top-tier tax band applies to new cars emitting more than 255 grams of CO₂ per kilometre, a threshold that captures a diverse array of powerful and often expensive vehicles from renowned manufacturers.
Understanding the April 2026 Car Tax Hike
From April 2026, the maximum first-year VED rate will rise from £5,490 to £5,690. This follows a sharp increase introduced in April 2025, when the government doubled the top rate from £2,745 to £5,490. The graduated system means that while zero-emission cars will incur a nominal £10 first-year charge, vehicles exceeding the 255g/km CO₂ threshold will face the full £5,690 bill. For context, an average petrol car (around 143g/km) will pay approximately £560 in its first year, and an average diesel car (around 164g/km) will pay roughly £1,360, according to reports from Yorkshire Post and LADbible.
After the first year, all vehicles transition to a standard annual VED rate, which is also set to increase from £195 to £200 in April 2026. This consistent upward trend in vehicle taxation reflects a broader government strategy to incentivize the transition to lower-emission transportation.
59 Models Facing the £5,690 First-Year Bill
The list of vehicles falling into the highest tax bracket includes models from premium brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Land Rover, Bentley, Ferrari, and Lamborghini. Surprisingly, some popular pick-up trucks like the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, and Volkswagen Amarok also feature on the list due to their higher CO₂ emissions, alongside more typical luxury and performance vehicles. The full list of 59 models affected by the £5,690 first-year charge includes:
- Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo
- Aston Martin DB12 4.0 V8
- Aston Martin DBX 4.0 V8
- Aston Martin Vantage 4.0 V8
- Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
- Audi RS6 4.0 TFSI V8
- Audi RS7 4.0 TFSI V8
- Audi RSQ8 4.0 TFSI V8
- Audi S8 4.0 TFSI V8
- Audi SQ7 4.0 TFSI V8
- Audi SQ8 4.0 TFSI V8
- Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8
- Bentley Continental 4.0 V8
- Bentley Continental 6.0 W12
- Bentley Flying Spur 4.0 V8
- BMW Alpina XB7 4.4 V8
- BMW M8 4.4 V8
- BMW X5 M 4.4 V8
- BMW X6 M 4.4 V8
- BMW X7 M 4.4 V8
- Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2 V8
- Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12
- Ferrari Roma 3.8T V8
- Ford Mustang 5.0 V8
- Ford Ranger 2.0 TD EcoBlue
- Ford Ranger 3.0 EcoBlue
- Ford Ranger 3.0 V6
- INEOS Grenadier 3.0P
- Jaguar F-Pace 5.0 P575 V8
- Jeep Wrangler 2.0 GME
- Lamborghini Huracan 5.2 V10
- Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12
- Lamborghini Urus 4.0 V8 BiTurbo
- Land Rover Defender 110 5.0 P425 V8
- Land Rover Defender 90 5.0 P425 V8
- Lotus Emira 3.5 V6
- Maserati Levante 3.0 V6
- Maserati Levante 3.8 V8
- Maserati MC20 3.0 V6
- McLaren GT 4.0T V8
- Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4.0 V8
- Mercedes-Benz G400D
- Mercedes-Benz G63
- Mercedes-Benz GLC63
- Mercedes-Benz GLE63
- Mercedes-Benz GLS63h
- Mercedes-Benz SL55
- Porsche 718 Cayman 4.0 GT4
- Porsche 911 3.7T 992 Turbo
- Porsche Cayenne 4.0T V8
- Porsche Macan 2.9T V6
- Range Rover 4.4 P530 V8
- Range Rover 4.4 P615 V8
- Range Rover Sport 4.4P V8
- Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.75 V12
- Rolls-Royce Ghost 6.75 V12
- Toyota Hilux 2.8D
- Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8D
- Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI
Electric Vehicles and Future Road Pricing
The changes also extend to electric vehicles (EVs), which will no longer be exempt from VED from April 2026. While the initial VED for EVs will be significantly lower than for high-emission vehicles, this marks a shift from previous incentives. Looking further ahead, the government has confirmed plans for a pay-per-mile road pricing scheme, expected to be implemented from April 2028, which will affect both EVs and conventional cars. This signals a move towards a more comprehensive road taxation model, potentially replacing the current VED system.
Critics argue that while the policy is framed as targeting ‘thirsty supercars and oversized SUVs,’ the rising VED rates are inadvertently making some ordinary, older cars uneconomical to keep. Motoring specialists have highlighted instances where annual tax bills for mid-2000s family cars now exceed their resale value, leading to the premature scrapping or export of otherwise usable vehicles.
The upcoming VED increases underscore a clear governmental intent to accelerate the shift away from high-emission internal combustion engine vehicles, directly impacting consumer choices and the automotive market. While aiming to promote environmental goals, the broad application of these taxes, including to previously exempt electric vehicles and older models, suggests a comprehensive restructuring of vehicle taxation that will necessitate adaptation from both manufacturers and consumers.