Driving laws are set to undergo significant changes in the coming year, with a raft of new legislation expected to make motoring more expensive for some UK drivers. Over the past year, we’ve seen a number of substantial and somewhat controversial changes to our roads.
These have included the introduction of 20mph zones in certain areas of England and Wales, as well as new rules limiting emissions from specific vehicle types. It appears this trend will continue into the next year, according to the upcoming legislative agenda.
Between now and 2025, private cars, public transport and heavy-duty vehicles will all be subject to new regulations, with extensions to excise duty and tachograph rules. However, these changes are expected to enhance safety on major roads and help control emissions.
Electric vehicles tax
Electric vehicles will also start paying vehicle excise duty, reports the Mirror. From April 1 next year, owners of electric vehicles (EVs) will be hit with a higher vehicle excise duty, often branded as the dreaded “car tax”.
Currently, car owners are charged around £190 annually, van operators face a fee of £335, and motorcycles attract a modest sum of about £25. However all new EVs registered post-April 1, 2025, will incur a first-year rate of £10, moving away from the previous zero charge.
They will also face two other new charges over future years. From the second year starting in 2026 the annual tax will rise to the standard rate which currently stands at £190, or £335 for commercial vehicles, but could rise further.
Then also from the second year vehicles costing more than £40,000 will face an Expensive Car Supplement, which although once not applicable, now stands at a costly £410. This is payable for five years.
Vehicles bought through firm’s Benefit in Kind schemes
Drivers taking part in their employer’s salary sacrifice schemes should brace themselves for increased Benefit in Kind (BiK) taxation. Mirroring vehicle excise duty due to its CO2 emissions link, BiK has remained steady at 2% since 2022 but is set to rise to 3% come April 2025.
The levy hike will scale up with emission levels. This will reach maximum of 37% for high polluters discharging over 154g/km CO2.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators must be ready to secure safety permits in the future. Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) are now subject to a Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and safety permit scheme, which was introduced by Transport for London on October 28 this year.
The DVS scheme requires HGVs to have safety permits if they wish to enter most of Greater London. Lorries have until 11.59pm on May 4, 2025 to install the necessary systems and obtain the HGV safety permits.
The vehicles will be given a star rating based on how much road drivers can see from their cabins, or whether they have a safe system in place. Any vehicle with a rating lower than three stars that fails to meet the requirements will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PNC).
Tachographs on commercial vehicles
New tachograph requirements for commercial vehicles have also been announced. Tachographs, which record driving time, speed, distance and other information about a vehicle, are typically fitted on commercial vehicles with maximum authorised masses of around 3.5 tonnes or more.
From August 19, 2024, these vehicles will need a new version of the device that records when they cross borders.
Congestion charge changes
One of the most significant changes planned for 2025 is the end of congestion charge exemptions for electric and hydrogen-fuelled cars in London, which is likely to be met with disappointment by some drivers. This rule applies to London’s Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ), which currently costs around £15 to enter.
Drivers won’t have to pay immediately though. The congestion zone will remain free between December 25 and January 1.
Eye tests
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency could change how eyesight of drivers is assessed in 2025. The body promised to investigate the current methods of testing in 2024 but nothing has been announced.
However several motoring and health experts, including the Association of Optometrists, have raised their concerns over older drivers, warning they could pose a higher risk of causing accidents as a result of deteriorating eyesight. At present drivers need to be able to read a vehicle number plate from at least 20 metres away and have an adequate field of vision to reduce the risk of blind spots.
So while nothing is laid down as yet, a new rule could see three million lose their licence if motoring bosses at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) accept the demands of optometrists and families of victims. The Association of Optometrists wants the law to be changed so that all drivers have their vision checked when they first apply for a driving licence when renewing it and checks every three years for those over 70.