UK High-Emission Cars Face £5,690 First-Year Tax in 2026

From April 2026, owners of nearly 60 high-emission petrol and diesel car models in the United Kingdom will face a first-year Vehicle Excise Duty of £5,690, marking another significant increase in road tax rates designed to curb pollution. The charge, paid upfront upon a vehicle's initial registration, targets new cars emitting more than 255 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer and follows a doubling of the top rate from £2,745 to £5,490 in April 2025.

The adjustment reflects ongoing government efforts to align vehicle taxes with environmental goals by penalizing higher emitters. First-year rates for all new vehicles are determined solely by CO2 output, ranging from £10 for zero-emission models to the maximum £5,690. Even low-emission cars face costs: those producing 1 gram per kilometer incur £110, while a typical new petrol car with around 143 grams per kilometer will see a £560 bill. Diesel models averaging 164 grams per kilometer could pay about £1,360. After the first year, vehicles shift to a standard annual rate, which will rise modestly from £195 to £200 for most cars registered after April 2017.

The highest band affects a diverse lineup of vehicles, including...