Car tax changes launching today will see petrol, diesel and electric vehicle drivers face price hikes

Felix Reeves

By Felix Reeves


Published: 06/04/2026

- 12:38

Some drivers could be slapped with costs worth thousands of pounds

Petrol, diesel and electric car drivers are being warned of fresh car tax changes launching today that could see them slapped with hefty charges.

From today, Monday, April 6, 2026, new Benefit-in-Kind tax rates will be introduced, impacting thousands of company car drivers.


While a large number of vehicle bands, which are dictated by the vehicle's emissions output, will remain at the same rate as 2025/26, many drivers will face price hikes.

Drivers of electric company cars will see price increases, with the BiK rate for EVs with an electric range of more than 130 miles increasing from three to four per cent.

For the average basic rate taxpayer with a £40,000 electric car, their monthly costs will rise from £20 to around £26.67.

The low rates are being maintained to incentivise motorists to ditch expensive petrol and diesel in favour of affordable electric cars.

A temporary easement for plug-in hybrid vehicles was also given the green light in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Autumn Budget.

The easement is in place from January 1, 2025, until April 5, 2028, and is being introduced to prevent the tax charge from "increasing significantly" as a result of new emissions standards.

Vehicle tax reminder and Chancellor Rachel Reeves

New car tax changes being introduced today will have an impact on company car drivers across the UK

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GETTY/PA

The most polluting petrol and diesel vehicles, namely those which emit more than 170g of CO2 per kilometre, remain on a huge 37 per cent BiK rate.

Further company car tax changes were scheduled for April 6, 2026, which would have seen Employee Car Ownership Schemes (ECOS) brought into the scope of BiK rules.

However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the sector would be given more time to adjust to the changes, with the implementation delayed until April 2030, and transitional arrangements until April 2032.

GB News has rounded up the new company car tax rates coming into effect for the 2026/2027 tax year.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

Benefit-in-Kind tax rates remain affordable for electric vehicles and efficient plug-in hybrid models

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FORD

Company car tax rates from April 6, 2026

0g/km - Rising from three per cent to four per cent

1-50g/km (more than 130 miles of electric range) - Rising from three per cent to four per cent

1-50g/km (70-129 miles of electric range) - Rising from six per cent to seven per cent

1-50g/km (40-69 miles of electric range) - Rising from nine per cent to 10 per cent

1-50g/km (30-39 miles of electric range) - Rising from 13 per cent to 14 per cent

1-50g/km (less than 30 miles of electric range) - Rising from 15 per cent to 16 per cent

51-54g/km - Rising from 16 per cent to 17 per cent

55-59g/km - Rising from 17 per cent to 18 per cent

60-64g/km - Rising from 18 per cent to 19 per cent

65-69g/km - Rising from 19 per cent to 20 per cent

70-74g/km - Rising from 20 per cent to 21 per cent

75-79g/km - Remains at 21 per cent

80-84g/km - Remains at 22 per cent

85-89g/km - Remains at 23 per cent

90-94g/km - Remains at 24 per cent

95-99g/km - Remains at 25 per cent

Ford Ranger Wildtrak

The most polluting vehicles, including the popular Ford Ranger Wildtrak, will see BiK taxes remain at 37 per cent

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FORD

100-104g/km - Remains at 26 per cent

105-109g/km - Remains at 27 per cent

110-114g/km - Remains at 28 per cent

115-119g/km - Remains at 29 per cent

120-124g/km - Remains at 30 per cent

125-129g/km - Remains at 31 per cent

130-134g/km - Remains at 32 per cent

135-139g/km - Remains at 33 per cent

140-144g/km - Remains at 34 per cent

145-149g/km - Remains at 35 per cent

150-154g/km - Remains at 36 per cent

155-159g/km - Remains at 37 per cent

160-164g/km - Remains at 37 per cent

165-169g/km - Remains at 37 per cent

Over 170g/km - Remains at 37 per cent