59 high emission models to face £5,690 first year car tax from April 2026
By Eve
The UK Government will raise first year Vehicle Excise Duty to £5,690 from 1 April 2026 for 59 petrol and diesel models across 24 manufacturers, including Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Toyota, Porsche, Lotus, Lamborghini and McLaren. The charge applies to vehicles emitting over 255 g/km of CO2 and follows a £2,745 increase introduced in April 2025 that brought the rate to £5,490. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the measure to widen the cost gap between high polluting vehicles and electric vehicles.
Why it matters: The escalating tax penalty on high emission vehicles is designed to accelerate fleet electrification and boost EV adoption, directly expanding the addressable market for charging infrastructure. Procurement teams and charge point operators should anticipate increased demand from both private buyers and corporate fleets seeking to avoid the levy.