Do Electric Cars Pay Road Tax (VED) in the UK?
Updated August 2026
Quick answer
Yes. Since 1 April 2025, electric cars pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) on the same structure as petrol and diesel cars: the lowest first-year rate, then the standard flat annual rate from year two, plus an expensive car supplement if the list price was over £40,000. The long-standing EV exemption ended on that date.
Frequently asked questions
Do electric cars pay road tax (VED) in the UK?
Yes, since 1 April 2025. Electric cars lost their VED exemption from that date: new EVs pay the lowest first-year rate then the standard flat annual rate from year two, the same structure petrol and diesel cars already use. EVs registered before April 2025 that were previously VED-free moved onto the standard rate too.
How much road tax does an electric car pay?
The same standard annual rate that applies to almost every car regardless of fuel type, plus an expensive car supplement for five years if the list price was over £40,000. Exact figures are reviewed most Budgets and typically rise with RPI each April — check GOV.UK's vehicle tax rate tables for the current year's amount.
Does road tax change whether an EV saves money overall?
Only slightly. VED is a few hundred pounds a year for most cars, EV or petrol — small next to the £800–£1,600 a year most home-charging EV owners typically save on fuel.