Drivers are being warned of countless new driving law changes introduced over the last few months which could see them hit with daily charges or new car tax costs.
With the start of the new financial year, new Vehicle Excise Duty rates could see motorists pay up to £5,490 when buying a new petrol or diesel car.
To help drivers deal with the countless motoring changes, GB News has rounded up the most important new rules you need to be aware of.
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Rachel Reeves introduced a number of new car tax measures in last year’s Autumn Statement
PA/GETTY
Car tax
A number of vital car tax changes were introduced at the start of the new financial year, with the vast majority of motorists seeing their Vehicle Excise Duty fees increase.
Electric vehicle owners are now expected to pay VED for the first time, while also paying the Expensive Car Supplement if their car has a list price of more than £40,000.
As announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, all VED rates for cars, vans and motorcycles increased in line with the RPI rate of inflation.
The salary sacrifice tax system penalising higher polluting vehicles through far higher ratesGETTYFirst year rates for VED were also hiked in a bid to “strengthen incentives to purchase zero emission and electric cars, by widening the differentials between zero emission, hybrid and internal combustion engine cars”.
While anyone who buys a new electric car from April 1, 2025, onwards will pay just £10 until 2029-30, other drivers will pay far more.
Vehicles which emit between one and 50g of CO2 per kilometre, including hybrid vehicles, will pay £110, with cars emitting 51-75g/km paying £130.
All cars which emit more pollution will see rates double, meaning the most polluting petrol and diesel could see prices rise from £2,745 to a staggering £5,490.
The Silvertown Tunnel hopes to alleviate stress on the Blackwall Tunnel
TRANSPORT FOR LONDON
Silvertown Tunnel
The highly anticipated Silvertown Tunnel was opened in April after first being announced in 2012. It will link Newham to the Greenwich Peninsula, with charges applying between 6am and 10pm, seven days a week.
The standard off-peak rate will be £1.50 for vehicles registered for Transport for London Auto Pay, applying for most of the day. Peak charges will apply northbound from 6am to 10am and southbound from 4pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday. The higher rate will also apply to anyone not using TfL Auto Pay, regardless of the time of travel.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the scheme for providing Londoners with “faster and more reliable journeys and enhanced public transport links”.
Young people are now being forced to wait 20 weeks for a driving test PADVSA
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) unveiled measures to tackle the backlog of driving tests after motorists reported having to wait months for a suitable appointment.
Previously, learner drivers needed to give three days’ notice if they were changing or cancelling their test to avoid losing their fee. This has now been hiked to 10 days to deter people from hoarding tests.
This comes as part of the DVSA’s wider aim to reduce driving test waiting times, including hiring 450 new driving examiners and improving rules for booking driving tests.
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Global markets plunged earlier this month after President Donald Trump unveiled his tariff onslaughtREUTERSTariffs
President Donald Trump’s auto tariffs took effect from April 2 at a rate of 25 per cent on cars and vehicle parts being imported into the United States.
As part of the so-called “Liberation Day”, Trump announced that the measure would lead to “tremendous growth” in the US and boost manufacturing, despite the impact on global financial markets.
In recent days, President Trump has hinted that he could ease tariffs on US carmakers by easing some duties on imported vehicle parts to support the “great American workers”.
Drivers could be slapped with more expensive parking fines across London after April
PA
Parking
On April 7, 2025, drivers in and around London saw penalty charges and fees hiked for the first time since 2011, as boroughs aimed to ensure the deterrents remain effective.
London boroughs’ parking penalties at the higher level increased by £30 to a maximum of £160, while penalties at the lower level jumped by £30 to a peak of £110.
Bus lane and moving traffic contraventions were also hiked to £160. All parking and moving traffic penalties can be reduced by 50 per cent if paid within 14 days from the date of issue.
