Owners of vehicles fitted with number plates ranging from these dates could be forced to pay almost £800 per year to use the roads in 2026.
Some drivers face £790 car tax fees from 2026 (Image: Getty)
Drivers owning number plates registered between these dates could face £790 per year car tax bills just months into 2026. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) fees rise every Spring in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation with charges set to rise on April 1, 2026.
Petrol, diesel and electric car owners are all set to face higher charges with standard VED rates for models registered after 2017 expected to rise above their current £195 fee. However, slightly older cars registered between 2001 and 2017 will pay VED on a sliding scale based on vehicle emission rates with some paying almost £800.
Drivers with cars registered between 2001 and 2017 face some of the highest fees (Image: Getty)
The most polluting models will be most affected with experts at Pete Barden suggesting that cars emitting over 255g/km of CO2 hit with charges of £790 per annum. This would be a £30 increase on the current £760 charge in a hefty blow just months into the new year.
Number plates change twice per year, with models sporting age identifiers between “01” and “17” among those affected by the new fees. However, new designs are also introduced every September, meaning those with plates ranging from “61” to “77” may also face the £795 charge.
Which? explained: “Most cars first registered as new after 1 March 2001, but before 1 April 2017, continue to be taxed at their previous, respective rates, which usually rise in line with official inflation figures each year. These are based on official CO2 emissions. The amount of CO2 your car produces puts it into one of 13 bands, which are assigned letters A to M.”
Car tax rises don’t stop there, with cars emitting between 226 and 255g/km of CO2 also facing major rises. Bills for these drivers are up by £25, jumping from £735 per year to £760 per annum from April 1.
There are also costly rises for owners of models emitting between 201 and 225g/km of CO2 as fees rise from £430 to £445 from the Spring.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) added: “As announced at Budget 2025, the government will introduce legislation in Finance Bill 2025-26 to uprate Vehicle Excise Duty rates for cars, vans and motorcycles in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) for 2026 to 2027. This will take effect from 1 April 2026.”
