BEVs to now pay road tax, and it's back-datable

[dan_b]

I had no idea this was coming in? Was apparently announced in the last Budget. And it seems there are some howlers in here where new hybrids are zero rated, but existing BEVs are not.

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/electric-ca ... ed-to-pay/

[nowty]

Only just renewed both my vehicles so I am OK for another year before being hit by £190 for the TM3.

Also looks like SHMBO's BMW i3 will only be £20 as it has the range extender so its a low emission vehicle and it meets the registration date window.

Of course there is another Budget this year which may change things before the current implementation date.

[dan_b]

Do you think the "expensive car" bit will be retrospective as well, or is that only in year 1 of a new car purchase?

I think BiK tariffs for company cars are changing next April as well

[nowty]

Do you think the "expensive car" bit will be retrospective as well, or is that only in year 1 of a new car purchase?

I believe it only comes in for new cars registered from 1st April 2025. Not 100% sure though, but I can imagine difficulty in having accurate retrospective list prices in the past for every vehicle model including optional items.

[AE-NMidlands]

I don't think it is retrospective at all, that's just the motoring lobby trying to stoke outrage at what had to be inevitable anyway - and was announced over a year ago!
Retrospective/ back-dateable to me says they would be looking for tax for the last few years, which of course they are not... It is simply a change, effective this year, to level up the playing field a bit.

[richbee]

It's not retrospective, but it will apply to existing vehicles, not just new vehicles. It will also apply for new EVs above £40k - so up to £600 per year after first year!!
On the other hand if you have a low CO2 EU5 diesel car, it will still be £20 - make perfect sense - not!!!

[John_S]

I have a cunning plan to SORN my EV on 28 February and to re-licence it on 1 March to postpone things for 11 months.
Had intended to do it this year in March, but found that did not work as the new period would begin in March too.

[nowty]

I have a cunning plan to SORN my EV on 28 February and to re-licence it on 1 March to postpone things for 11 months.
Had intended to do it this year in March, but found that did not work as the new period would begin in March too.

Sounds like a workable plan.

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn

Apply to take your vehicle off the road
Your SORN will start immediately if either:

• your vehicle tax has expired

• you’re not applying in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire

Your SORN will start on the first day of the next month if you apply in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire.

[Oliver90owner]

I bought mine in March last year, so straightforward for me. I’ve no idea what my I-5 will cost, but that is not going to change anything. Except it may well be annoying if later models pay less…

[nowty]

I have a cunning plan to SORN my EV on 28 February and to re-licence it on 1 March to postpone things for 11 months.
Had intended to do it this year in March, but found that did not work as the new period would begin in March too.

Sounds like a workable plan.

https://www.gov.uk/make-a-sorn

Apply to take your vehicle off the road
Your SORN will start immediately if either:

• your vehicle tax has expired

• you’re not applying in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire

Your SORN will start on the first day of the next month if you apply in the month your vehicle tax is due to expire.

Actually you don't even need to do a SORN and then re-tax, you just re-tax it again using your Reg and V5 ref online.

You get a warning that you may be charged again but its a zero charge.

Just successfully done it on SWMBO EV, it was taxed till 1st Aug next year and now its taxed to 1st Oct next year. Going to also do it with my EV now in case something comes up in the forthcoming Budget which stops us doing this.