Electric car VED rates 2026/27 (by registration date)
Your VED rate depends on when the car was first registered, not when you bought it.
| Registration date | Year 1 | Year 2 onwards |
|---|---|---|
| On or after 1 April 2025 | £10 | £200/year |
| 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2025 | — | £200/year |
| 1 March 2001 – 31 March 2017 | — | £20/year |
| Before 1 March 2001 | — | £0 (historic vehicle) |
These rates apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027. The standard rate increased to £200 from April 2026. If you bought a second-hand EV registered between April 2017 and March 2025, you pay £200 per year from April 2025 onwards, regardless of when you purchased the car. Source: GOV.UK.
The Expensive Car Supplement explained
The Expensive Car Supplement — sometimes called the luxury car tax — catches a significant number of popular EVs and is worth understanding before you buy.
- Applies to zero-emission vehicles with an original list price above £50,000 registered on or after 1 April 2025
- Supplement amount: £440 per year
- Duration: five years, starting in year two of registration
- Total annual VED while supplement applies: £200 + £440 = £640
- Threshold raised from £40,000 to £50,000 for zero-emission cars in November 2025 (Source: GOV.UK)
Important: The list price threshold is based on the manufacturer's original price including optional extras — not the price you paid, and not any dealer discount you received. A used EV bought today for £32,000 will still attract the supplement if its original list price when new exceeded £50,000.
What counts towards the list price?
Optional extras specified at the time of manufacture count towards the list price for VED purposes. This includes colour upgrades, technology packs, larger battery options, and other factory-fitted additions. It does not include aftermarket accessories fitted after purchase.
Dealer discounts, finance arrangements, and the actual price you paid have no bearing on the list price calculation. Practical examples:
- £48,000 base price + £3,500 technology pack = £51,500 list price, triggering the supplement
- £52,000 list price car bought for £44,000 used: supplement still applies
- £49,500 list price car with no extras: no supplement
If you are uncertain about a vehicle's original list price, check the V5C logbook or ask the manufacturer directly.
How does EV road tax compare to petrol?
Most mid-size and larger petrol cars also pay the £200 standard rate in the current VED band system, so for the majority of EV owners, road tax is now broadly equal to their petrol equivalents. Before April 2025, EV owners saved up to £520 per year on VED compared to a higher-band petrol car. That advantage has now gone.
The one remaining difference is the Expensive Car Supplement threshold: for petrol and diesel cars it applies to list prices over £40,000, while for zero-emission EVs registered after April 2025, the threshold is £50,000. This gives EV buyers a modest advantage in the £40,000 to £50,000 price bracket.
What's next — Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) from April 2028
The government has announced plans to introduce a pay-per-mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty from April 2028. The proposed rate is 3 pence per mile, though implementation details — including the verification method — are still subject to consultation. Figures vary; verify current data.
At 3p per mile, an EV driver covering approximately 8,000 miles per year would face an additional cost of around £240 per year, on top of the standard VED rate. This is intended to bring EV road tax contributions closer to those paid by petrol and diesel drivers through fuel duty. The House of Commons Library research briefing on electric vehicle excise duty provides the most up-to-date position on the consultation.
Road tax in context: what EVs still cost and still save
Road tax is now broadly neutral between EVs and petrol. But it is worth keeping road tax in perspective as one line in the overall cost picture. Electric cars still save significantly on fuel (approximately 2 to 7 pence per mile at home versus 17 to 21 pence for petrol) and on servicing costs.
Road tax is just one of several costs EV owners need to budget for. See how road tax fits into your overall electric car running costs in our complete guide.
Key takeaways
- EVs registered after 1 April 2025 pay £10 for the first year, then £200 per year from the second year.
- EVs registered between April 2017 and March 2025 pay the £200 standard rate from April 2025 onwards.
- The Expensive Car Supplement (£440 per year for five years) applies to EVs with an original list price above £50,000.
- The list price threshold was raised from £40,000 to £50,000 for zero-emission cars in November 2025.
- A pay-per-mile Electric Vehicle Excise Duty of 3 pence per mile is planned from April 2028 — figures vary; verify current data.
Frequently asked questions
Do electric cars pay road tax in the UK?
Yes, since 1 April 2025. The zero-VED exemption that applied to electric cars ended on that date. New EVs registered after April 2025 pay £10 in year one, then £200 per year. EVs registered between April 2017 and March 2025 pay £200 per year from April 2025. EVs registered before April 2017 pay £20 per year. All rates are set by DVLA and published on GOV.UK.
How much is road tax on an electric car in 2026?
The standard rate for most EVs is £200 per year (2026/27 tax year). New EVs registered after April 2025 pay just £10 in their first year, then move to £200 from year two. EVs registered before April 2017 pay the reduced rate of £20 per year. Source: GOV.UK.
What is the Expensive Car Supplement for electric cars?
An additional VED charge of £440 per year applied for five years on EVs with an original list price above £50,000. It applies from year two of registration, making total annual VED £640. The threshold was raised from £40,000 to £50,000 for zero-emission vehicles in November 2025 — this applies to EVs registered from 1 April 2025 onwards. Source: GOV.UK.
Does road tax apply to leased electric cars?
For most new lease agreements, VED is included within the lease rental payment. The leasing company registers the vehicle as the legal owner and handles the road tax on your behalf. Check your specific lease agreement to confirm — but in the majority of cases you will not need to pay it separately.
Will there be a pay-per-mile tax for electric cars?
Yes, an Electric Vehicle Excise Duty based on mileage is planned for introduction in April 2028, with a proposed rate of 3 pence per mile. An average driver covering around 8,000 miles per year could face an extra £240 annually, on top of standard VED. Implementation details remain subject to consultation — figures vary; verify current data.