Driving laws are set to undergo significant changes this year with a raft of new legislation expected to make motoring more expensive for some UK drivers. The past year has seen a number of controversial changes to road rules, including the introduction of 20mph zones in certain areas of England and Wales, as well as new emissions restrictions for specific vehicle types.
This trend looks set to continue into the next year, according to upcoming legislative proposals. Between now and 2025, private cars, public transport and heavy-duty vehicles will all be subject to new regulations, including extensions to excise duty and tachograph rules.
However, these changes are expected to improve safety on major roads and help control emissions. One of the most significant changes planned for 2025 is the end of congestion charge exemptions for electric and hydrogen-fuelled cars, which is likely to be unpopular with some drivers.
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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, as the CCZ is free to enter for nearly a week between December 25 and January 1.
Electric vehicles will also start paying vehicle excise duty. Electric vehicle (EV) owners are set to face a hike in vehicle excise duty, commonly known as “car tax”, from April 1 next year. Currently, car owners pay about £190 annually, while van owners are charged £335, and motorcyclists pay approximately £25.
However, all electric cars registered from April 1, 2025, will incur a first-year rate of £10, up from the current £0. Additionally, vehicles with a list price over £40,000 registered around this time will be subject to the Expensive Car Supplement, which was not previously required and currently stands at £410.
The Benefit in Kind (BiK) tax, paid by drivers who purchase a vehicle through their company’s salary sacrifice scheme, is also set to rise. BiK rates have been steady at two percent for the past two years since 2022 but will increase to three percent in April 2025.
The rates will continue to climb in proportion to a vehicle’s CO2 emissions, maxing out at 37 percent for cars emitting more than 154g/km CO2.
Furthermore, HGVs will soon be required to hold safety permits.
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 want to enter most of Greater London.
Lorries have until 11.59pm on May 4, 2025 to install the systems and secure the HGV safety permits. Lorries 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 lorry with a rating lower than three stars that fails to meet the requirements will receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PNC). New tachograph requirements for commercial vehicles have also been announced.
Tachographs are devices that record driving time, speed, distance and other information about a vehicle. They are typically fitted on commercial vehicles weighing 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.