Drivers face new 'environmental' taxes for larger vehicles with launch of higher road charges

Hemma Visavadia
Wed, 01 Apr 2026 14:51:12 +0000

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has introduced new tax rates for larger vehicles today after announcing them in last year's Autumn Budget.

The updated rules affect heavy goods vehicles, buses, recovery trucks and specialist transport across the UK, with operators now facing revised charges under both Vehicle Excise Duty and the HGV road user levy.

A Treasury spokesperson said: "These changes ensure that road charges better reflect vehicle weight and environmental impact, while maintaining fairness for operators."

Under the new system, annual costs are calculated based on a vehicle's weight, axle setup and emissions standard. Operators must combine their VED payments with any levy charges to work out their total bill.

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Labour said the system is designed to be clearer, adding that rates will now be linked directly to revenue weight and Euro emissions classification.

The changes cover a wide range of vehicles, including rigid lorries, articulated trucks, combined transport vehicles and those used for exceptional loads.

For the heaviest vehicles, the costs are high, with lorries weighing more than 44,000kg now paying £1,703 a year in VED, or £851.50 for six months.

On top of that, levy charges apply, with cleaner Euro 7 vehicles paying £619 annually, rising to £804 for older, more polluting models.

General haulage lorries now pay £380 per year, up from £365, although a six-month option is available at £209.

The Treasury noted that drivers choosing to pay by direct debit can spread the cost, with monthly payments totalling £399 across the year.

The Government also confirmed that flexible payment options remain in place, including annual, six-monthly and monthly instalments.

The legal changes apply to all new vehicle licences taken out from today under amendments to existing legislation.

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Lorries weighing between 12,000kg and 31,000kg that meet Euro VI standards pay £161 per year, while older vehicles pay £209.

For vehicles between 31,001kg and 38,000kg, the annual levy is £387 for cleaner models and £503 for older ones.

The highest band, for vehicles above 38,000kg, sees charges of £619 for Euro VI lorries and £804 for those that do not meet the standard.

Two-axle lorries in the 15,000kg to 27,000kg range pay £322 annually, while some three-axle models can pay less depending on their configuration.

Tractor units used in articulated lorries also face varying charges, while additional charges apply for vehicles towing heavy trailers, with some combinations reaching £654 a year in VED.

Smaller buses with up to 17 seats pay £177 annually, while mid-sized vehicles are charged £240. Larger coaches can pay between £350 and £530, depending on capacity.

Certain specialist vehicles, including mobile cranes, road rollers and showman's vehicles, will pay a flat £177 rate regardless of type.