TL;DR: Yes, electric cars pay road tax in the UK. From 1 April 2025, electric vehicles became liable for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). For the 2026/27 tax year, eligible new EVs pay £10 in their first year, followed by the standard £200 annual rate. EVs registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay £20 a year. From April 2028, the government plans to introduce an additional mileage-based charge for electric cars and plug-in hybrids.
Do electric cars pay road tax in the UK?
Yes. Electric cars are no longer exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), commonly known as road tax. The change took effect on 1 April 2025 and applies to both new and existing electric cars. How much you pay depends on when your vehicle was first registered and, for some newer EV's, its original list price.
The changes mean electric car owners now pay VED in the same way as many petrol and diesel car owners. However, different rates apply depending on the vehicle's registration date.
You can check your vehicle's car tax status and how much you can expect to pay using Regit's Car Tax Checker.
Electric car road tax rates for 2026/27
The following VED rates apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
1. New electric cars registered from 1 April 2025
If your electric car was first registered on or after 1 April 2025, you pay £10 in the first year.
From the second year onwards, the standard annual VED rate is £200.
If your car has an original list price of more than £50,000, you may also have to pay the Expensive Car Supplement. This adds £440 a year for five years, starting from the second year of vehicle tax.
2. Electric cars registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025
If your EV was registered during this period, you now pay the standard annual VED rate of £200.
Before April 2025, eligible electric cars in this category were exempt from VED. The change means owners must now include road tax in their annual running costs.
These vehicles are exempt from the Expensive Car Supplement under the current rules, even if their original list price exceeded £50,000.
3. Older electric cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017
Electric cars registered during this period pay the standard annual rate of £20.
This lower rate can help make some older EVs affordable to run. However, buyers should also consider the vehicle's battery condition, remaining range, charging options, insurance and maintenance costs before purchasing a used electric car.
Electric car road tax rates at a glance
| First registration date | First-year VED | Standard annual VED |
|---|---|---|
| On or after 1 April 2025 | £10 | £200 |
| 1 April 2017–31 March 2025 | Depends on the vehicle's tax history | £200 |
| 1 March 2001–31 March 2017 | Not applicable to the current standard rate structure | £20 |
Rates shown apply to the 2026/27 tax year. Eligible newer EVs with an original list price above £50,000 may also incur the £440 Expensive Car Supplement.
You can check the latest rates using the official GOV.UK electric vehicle tax guidance.
What is the Expensive Car Supplement for electric cars?
The Expensive Car Supplement is an additional vehicle tax charge for certain higher-priced cars.
For eligible zero-emission cars first registered on or after 1 April 2025, the supplement applies when the original list price is more than £50,000.
The charge is £440 a year for five years, starting from the second year of vehicle tax. This is added to the standard £200 annual rate, giving a total of £640 a year while the supplement applies.
The original list price is the published price before the vehicle is first registered. Discounts do not reduce this figure, so a car bought for less than £50,000 could still qualify if its original list price was higher.
Optional extras may also affect the relevant list price. Check the figure with the dealer before buying a new electric car.
Importantly, the supplement does not currently apply to zero-emission cars registered before 1 April 2025.
You can find more information in the official vehicle tax rate tables.
Will electric cars pay road tax per mile from 2028?
Yes. The government plans to introduce Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from 1 April 2028.
This will be a mileage-based charge for eligible electric cars and plug-in hybrid vehicles. It is intended to help replace some of the fuel duty revenue lost as more drivers switch to electric vehicles.
The announced initial rates are:
- Fully electric cars: 3p per mile.
- Plug-in hybrid cars: 1.5p per mile.
- Hydrogen fuel cell cars: 3p per mile.
The charge will be payable alongside existing VED, rather than replacing the annual road tax.
How much could eVED cost electric car owners?
The amount you pay will depend on how many miles you drive.
For example, at the announced initial rate of 3p per mile, a fully electric car covering 8,000 miles in a year would incur £240 in eVED.
A plug-in hybrid covering the same distance would incur £120 at 1.5p per mile.
These are illustrative calculations using the announced rates. The actual charge will depend on mileage, and the government plans to increase the rates in line with inflation from 2029/30 onwards.
Under the published proposals, drivers will provide an odometer reading and estimate their mileage for the forthcoming tax period. The charge will be reconciled against actual mileage at the end of the period.
Are electric cars still cheaper to run?
Although electric cars now pay road tax, they may still offer savings compared with petrol and diesel vehicles. The overall difference depends on how and where you drive.
Charging costs
Charging an EV at home can be cheaper per mile than buying petrol or diesel, particularly if you use an off-peak electricity tariff.
However, public rapid charging can cost more than home charging. Your savings will depend on electricity prices, your vehicle's efficiency and your annual mileage.
Servicing and maintenance
Electric cars have fewer moving parts in their drivetrains and do not need engine oil changes. They can therefore have lower routine servicing requirements than comparable petrol or diesel cars.
However, tyres, brakes, suspension, insurance, repairs and depreciation still contribute to the overall cost of ownership.
Clean air zone charges
Fully electric cars generally meet the emissions standards for London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ), meaning they do not incur the standard ULEZ charge.
Other clean air zones have their own rules, you can use Regit's free Clean Air Zone checker to see if your vehicle needs to pay to enter these zones.
Company car tax
Electric company cars can benefit from lower Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) tax rates than many petrol and diesel alternatives. The rate depends on the tax year and the vehicle's characteristics, so company car drivers should check the current rules when calculating their costs.
Is buying a used electric car still worthwhile?
Used electric cars can offer lower purchase prices than new models, but road tax is only one factor to consider.
Before buying a used EV, check:
- Battery health: Find out what information is available about battery condition and whether the battery warranty remains valid.
- Real-world range: Consider how far the car can travel in different conditions and whether it suits your regular journeys.
- Charging access: Check whether you can charge at home or will need to rely on public charging.
- Running costs: Compare VED, insurance, charging, servicing and likely depreciation.
- Registration date: Confirm the vehicle's first registration date to establish the applicable VED rate.
Older electric cars registered between March 2001 and March 2017 currently benefit from the £20 standard annual rate. However, their lower tax cost should be weighed against their age, battery condition and available range.
Summary: electric car road tax in 2026
Electric cars are no longer exempt from road tax in the UK. The applicable rate depends on when the car was first registered.
For the 2026/27 tax year:
- Eligible new EVs registered from 1 April 2025 pay £10 in the first year, followed by £200 annually.
- EVs registered between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2025 pay the £200 standard annual rate.
- EVs registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay £20 annually.
- Eligible EVs registered from 1 April 2025 with an original list price above £50,000 may pay an additional £440 a year for five years.
- From April 2028, the government plans to introduce an additional mileage-based charge of 3p per mile for fully electric cars and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids.
Road tax is an important part of the cost of owning an electric car, but charging, insurance, depreciation and maintenance also affect how much you spend. Comparing these costs will give you a clearer picture of whether an EV suits your budget and driving needs.