Motorists aged over 70 are confronting higher car tax bills in 2026 in all vehicle categories. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) charges are normally calculated based on a car’s age and emissions levels, with the driver’s age having no bearing on the amount owed.
Unlike some other levies, older drivers receive no VED road tax concessions based on age, meaning those beyond 70 pay the same rates as every other motorist. As a result, pensioners have been struck with significant tax rises in 2026, with costs climbing from April.
Brand new combustion engine vehicles in their first year on British roads faced eye-watering bills. Certain charges are soaring by as much as £200 to reach £5,690 annually, reports the Express.
This comes just 12 months after first-year tax charges were dramatically doubled, with prices jumping from £2,745 to £5,490 for the 2025/26 tax year.
Meanwhile, petrol and diesel cars registered post-2017 saw their standard VED rise from £195 to £200 in April.
Cars registered between 2001 and 2017 are taxed according to emissions output, with the most polluting vehicles producing over 255g/km of CO2 now facing bills of up to £790 to use public roads.
Charges also rose for cars registered before 2001, with modern classics paying up to £15 extra to drive since the start of the new tax year. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Electric vehicle owners were equally impacted, with EVs now subject to the £200 standard levy.
The Expensive Car Supplement threshold has, however, been raised to £50,000, up from the previous £40,000.
Vehicles carrying a list price exceeding £50,000 will now be subject to an additional annual charge of £440 on top of their existing tax obligations, compared to the former £425.
Only those vehicles registered more than 40 years ago qualify for exemption from Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) under historic vehicle tax regulations.
This means any car manufactured prior to 1986 is not required to pay road tax, offering a considerable benefit to classic car owners and enthusiasts.