Get ready for a shock! Nearly 60 car models are facing a hefty £5,690 road tax bill starting this April! Are you one of the unlucky owners whose vehicle is about to become significantly more expensive to run? It's a significant jump, and it's crucial to know if your car is on the list.
For the upcoming 2026 financial year, the first-year Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), often called road tax, is set to increase by £200, reaching a staggering £5,690 for a specific group of vehicles. This impacts nearly 60 different car models from around two dozen manufacturers, including some of the most popular brands like Audi, Ford, and BMW. This means that if you're buying a brand-new car from these affected models, you'll be hit with this substantial charge in its first year of registration.
This isn't a sudden whim; it's a continuation of a trend. The government had already dramatically increased the first-year VED for petrol and diesel cars in April 2025, more than doubling it from £2,745 to £5,490. This initial, higher fee is a one-time charge for new car owners before their vehicles transition to a much more manageable standard rate in the following years.
But here's where it gets controversial... This highest rate is exclusively applied to vehicles that are the worst offenders for the environment, specifically those with the highest CO2 emissions. We're talking about cars that emit more than 255 grams of CO2 per kilometre. This policy aims to penalize the most polluting vehicles, but does it go far enough, or is it simply an added burden on consumers who might not have many alternatives?
For context, the first-year VED for all cars can range from a mere £10 all the way up to that eye-watering £5,690, all depending on their emissions. Even a tiny increase to 1 gram per kilometre above zero emissions will push the cost up to £110. For the average petrol car, emitting around 143g/km, the first-year tax would be approximately £560. For an average diesel car, with emissions around 164g/km, you'd be looking at a bill of about £1,360. These figures highlight the significant difference in tax burden based on a car's environmental impact.
And this is the part most people miss... The changes aren't just for petrol and diesel cars. For the first time, electric cars are also being charged for VED. Furthermore, a new pay-per-mile scheme is slated to come into effect for electric vehicles from April 2028, which could fundamentally change how we pay for driving.
For those of you who already own a car registered before these new rules, don't panic just yet! The road tax for existing vehicles is significantly lower. However, even the standard annual rate is seeing a small increase, going up from £195 to £200 in April for the second year onwards.
So, which models are facing the £5,490 first-year charge? Here's a look at some of the vehicles that will attract this significant tax:
- 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 3.7T 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 V8
- Audi SQ8 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 Levante 3.0 V6
- Porsche Cayenne 4.0T V8
- BMW M8 4.4 V8
- 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
What are your thoughts on these rising road tax costs? Do you believe the current system effectively encourages environmentally friendly driving, or is it simply an unfair tax on vehicle owners? Let us know your opinions in the comments below!
