The vehicles that will be paying £5690 starting April 1 include 59 cars of 24 manufacturers like Ford, BMW, and Mercedes, to mention a few. The growth is due to the significant changes in the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates in the previous year, whereby some models surged by £2745.
In April 2025, the Government decided to raise first-year VED charges on petrol and diesel vehicles. These are high charges that buyers of new vehicles have to pay before they switch to the normal rate. Prices are also increasing at a gradual pace, and most of the premium segments will see their charges doubled since 2024.
Those cars with over 255 g/km of CO2 emitted the largest £2745 increment, and this affects some of the most commonly used cars in the Britain roads. They increased to £5490 in the first year- and are projected to go to £5690 on April 1, 2026.
It will affect some models of mainstream manufacturers like Ford and Toyota. BMW, Mercedes, and Audi cars will not be left out either. The changes will be the most expensive for premium marques. Examples of Porsche, Lamborghini, and McLaren models will be among those that will be subjected to the new levy.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced one of the measures to encourage consumers to buy electric vehicles and increase the gap between cars with higher emissions and EVs. The amount of taxes paid by the vehicle in the first year depends on the amount of carbon dioxide the vehicle emits.
Currently, customers who purchase electric vehicles (EVs) get a Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) break. Continuously, vehicles with a CO2 output ranging between 111g and 150g/km were taxed £220.
Those exceeding 255g/km pay an even higher initial charge of £ 5,490, which will also increase. The changes that took place in April 2021 addressed the fact that EV owners paid a nominal £10 as the first year of VED, which had been recently frozen.
Expected first-year car rates from April 1, 2026
- 0g/km- Remains at £10
- 1-50g/km – Rising from £110 to £115
- 51-75g/km – Rising from £130 to £135
- 76-90g/km – Rising from £270 to £280
- 91-100g/km – Rising from £350 to £365
- 101-110g/km – Rising from £390 to £405
- 111-130g/km – Rising from £440 to £455
- 131-150g/km – Rising from £540 to £560
- 151-170g/km – Rising from £1,360 to £1,410
- 171-190g/km – Rising from £2,190 to £2,270
- 191-225g/km – Rising from £3,300 to £3,420
- 226-255g/km – Rising from £4,680 to £4,850
- Over 255gkm – Rising from £5,490 to £5,690
- First year – will be standard rate, which is likely to be PS200 (at present PS195)
There has been a complete release of new models that produce above 255 g/km.
Audi RS6 4.0 TFSI V8
Audi S8 4.0 TFSI V8
McLaren GT 4.0T V8
Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10
Lamborghini Huracan 5.2 V10
Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2 V8
Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI
Aston Martin DBX 4.0 V8
Ferrari Roma 3.8T V8
Audi SQ7 4.0 TFSI V8
Range Rover Sport 4.4P V8
Jaguar F-Pace 5.0 P575 V8
Aston Martin DB12 4.0 V8
Porsche 911 3.7R 992 Turbo
Jeep Wrangler 2.0 GME
Ford Ranger 2.0 TD EcoBlue
Audi RSQ8 4.0 TFSI V8
Lotus Emira 3.5 V6
Bentley Continental 4.0 TFSI V8
Aston Martin Vantage 4.0 V8
Toyota Hilux 2.8D
Porsche Macan 2.9T V6
Mercedes-Benz SL55
Range Rover 4.4 P530 V8
Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4.0 V8
Porsche 718 Cayman 4.0 GT4
Lamborghini Urus 4.0 V8 BiTurbo
Audi RS7 4.0 TFSI V8
Ford Mustang 5.0 V8
Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8D
Bentley Continental 6.0 W12
Mercedes-Benz GLC63
Ford Ranger 3.0 V6
INEOS Grenadier 3.0P
Range Rover 4.4 P615 V8
Land Rover Defender 90 5.0 P425 V8
Rolls-Royce Ghost 6.75 V12
Ford Ranger 3.0 EcoBlue
Mercedes-Benz G63
Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12
Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.75 V12
Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo
Mercedes-Benz GLE63
Maserati MC20 3.0 V6
Land Rover Defender 110 5.0 P425 V8
Mercedes-Benz G400D
Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12
Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8
BMW X7 M 4.4 V8
BMW X6 M 4.4 V8
BMW Alpina XB7 4.4 V8
Bentley Flying Spur 4.0 V8
Maserati Levante 3.8 V8
BMW X5 M 4.4 V8 Mercedes-Benz GLS63h
Cars over £ 40000 are subject to the VED luxury car tax premium.