It comes as Government plans the Road Safety Strategy.
Drivers caught without 1 thing now face £500 fine and 3 points on licence (Image: Getty)
Drivers across the UK are being urged to prepare for a wave of major motoring rules, regulations and law changes arriving in 2026. Experts warned they could affect commuting costs, and even make drivers think twice about essential safety checks.
Certain changes have been confirmed, including an increase to London’s congestion charge and the introduction of electric vehicle exemptions. Others are in the pipeline, such as tougher drink-driving limits and health checks. Car leasing experts at Nationwide Vehicle Contracts outlined the key changes drivers need to be aware of.
“Next year is shaping up to be one of the most significant for driving law changes in recent memory,” said Keith Hawes, Director of Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.
“From congestion charge increases to tougher safety regulations, drivers need to stay fully informed to avoid unexpected fines and ensure they’re meeting new legal standards. Preparing early will make the transition smoother and help motorists stay compliant as the rules change.”
One key change is the introduction of tougher penalties for not wearing a seatbelt. At present, offenders typically face a fine of up to £500. However, the stricter penalties are expected to be introduced for both drivers and passengers. Drivers could face three penalty points on their driving licence, and a fine of up to £500 if the case goes to court.
Drivers are responsible for children under 14, so they must ensure the child is either in the correct car seat or wearing a seatbelt if they are 12 or 13 years old, or younger and taller than 135cm.
On January 7, the Department for Transport released its proposed changes, writing: “Although the vast majority of people wear seatbelts, the impacts of not using a seat belt are disproportionately and unacceptably high.
“We are concerned that the current penalties for not wearing a seat belt are not right, because they do not do enough to punish non-seat belt use.
“That is why we are consulting on a proposal to make non-compliance an endorsable offence, attracting 3 penalty points.”
Another major change took place on January 2. London’s Congestion Charge rose for the first time since 2020, up from £15 to £18 when paid on the day.
The exemption for electric vehicles ended in December 2025, but electric cars registered for Auto Pay will receive a 25% discount, making the daily charge £13.50. Electric vans, HGVs, and quadricycles will receive a 50% discount.
A third significant potential change is the proposed mandatory eye tests for drivers aged 70 and over, as part of the Road Safety Strategy. Currently, motorists self-declare that they meet eyesight standards, a system that safety groups argue is outdated.
England could also adopt a drink-drive limit similar to Scotland’s, reducing the legal threshold from 35 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22 micrograms. This means one drink may be enough to put some drivers over the limit, which has been met with outrage from rural pubs.
Roadside tests to catch drug drivers could also be ramped up as ministers seek to reverse a rise in traffic deaths caused by illegal substances, like cocaine and ecstasy.
If roadside saliva-based tests become more reliable, the safety strategy proposes that they could be used as evidence to prosecute drug driving offences without a follow-up blood test. This change is expected to speed up investigations and increase conviction rates.
