UK drivers, beware! A new tax is coming for your electric dreams. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a driveway rule change that will hit the wallets of electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid owners hard.
But here's the catch: this tax specifically targets the running costs of these eco-friendly cars. From April 2028, EV owners will be charged 3 pence per mile, and plug-in hybrid owners 1.5 pence per mile. That's a significant increase for those who initially invested in EVs to save on road tax, which ended in April 2025. For instance, a driver covering 10,000 miles annually will now pay £300 more!
And this is the part most people miss: while the government claims it's ensuring all car drivers contribute, it's also maintaining incentives to switch to EVs. But is this fair to those with long commutes or rural residents? Government officials argue that petrol and diesel owners already pay similar fees through fuel costs and taxes.
The pay-per-mile tax, or Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED), was announced in the 2025 Autumn Budget and will be implemented alongside the existing Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Mileage verification will occur during annual MOT tests, with additional checks for newer cars at no extra cost to motorists.
So, is this a necessary step towards a sustainable future or an unfair burden on those trying to make a difference? The debate is sure to spark strong opinions. What's your take on this controversial move?
