VED increases: Government plans mean high-polluting cars will see road tax double

As Budget announcements mean road tax rates soar to £5,490 for some drivers, we look at the cars on the Government’s hit list.

Under plans announced in the Autumn Budget, some 59 premium cars will be hit by a huge hike in road tax – also known as Vehicle Excise Duty or VED.

As a result, many drivers will see their annual bills double from £2,745 to £5,490.

Cars affected by the Chancellor’s move fall into the category of high-end and performance models, emitting more than 255g/km of CO2.

Likewise, brands emitting between 226 and 255g/km will see their rates rise from £2,340 to £4,680.

Note, the changes only apply to brand new vehicles and come into effect from next April.

The standard rate of is VED is currently £190, although this is set to rise in line with inflation.

The worst-hit brands

According to research reported in Birmingham Live, many of the 59 most affected cars are from premium brands such as Alfa Romeo, Audi, Bentley and BMW.

Drivers of SUVs such as Range Rover and Jeep will also face the whopping bill.

Perhaps luckily for the average driver, these cars tend to be out of our price range.

£1.7 billion by 2030

According to the Government, the move is designed to reduce the number of high-polluting cars on the roads.

However, industry experts predict the doubling of VED for certain vehicles will bring an extra £400 million into the public purse next year, surging to £1.7 billion within a decade.

What about electric vehicles?

While the Government claims the move is to encourage the take-up of electric vehicles (EVs), drivers of these cars will also be dragged into the tax from next year.

At present, these vehicles are exempt from VED.

From April, however, new EVs will have to pay the first-year VED at the lowest rate, currently £10, applicable to the 1-50g/km emissions band.

From the second year, EVs will move to the standard VED rate, currently set at £190 per year.

Meanwhile, EVs priced over £40,000 will face an additional premium charge of £419 per year for five years after the first registration.

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Which cars will see their VED double?

Here’s the full list of 59 motors on the Government’s hit list, according to Birmingham Live.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio 2.9 V6 Bi-Turbo

Audi R8 5.2 FSI V10

Audi RS6 4.0 TFSI V8

Audi RS7 4.0 TFSI V8

Audi RSQ8 4.0 TFSI V8

Audi S8 4.0 TFSI V8

Audi SQ7 4.0 TFSI V8

Audi SQ8 4.0 TFSI V8

Aston Martin DB12 4.0 V8

Aston Martin DBX 4.0 V8

Aston Martin Vantage 4.0 V8

Bentley Bentayga 4.0 V8

Bentley Continental 4.0 V8

Bentley Continental 6.0 W12

Bentley Flying Spur 4.0 V8

BMW Alpina XB7 4.4 V8

BMW M8 4.4 V8

BMW X5 M 4.4 V8

BMW X6 M 4.4 V8

BMW X7 M 4.4 V8

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2 V8

Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12

Ferrari Roma 3.8T V8

Ford Mustang 5.0 V8

Ford Ranger 2.0 TD EcoBlue

Ford Ranger 3.0 EcoBlue

Ford Ranger 3.0 V6

INEOS Grenadier 3.0P

Jaguar F-Pace 5.0 P575 V8

Jeep Wrangler 2.0 GME

Lamborghini Huracan 5.2 V10

Lamborghini Urus 4.0 V8 BiTurbo

Lamborghini Revuelto 6.5 V12

Land Rover Defender 90 5.0 P425 V8

Land Rover Defender 110 5.0 P425 V8

Lotus Emira 3.5 V6

Maserati Levante 3.0 V6

Maserati Levante 3.8 V8

Maserati MC20 3.0 V6

McLaren GT 4.0T V8

Mercedes-Benz AMG GT 4.0 V8

Mercedes-Benz G400D

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLC63/Mercedes-Benz GLE63

Mercedes-Benz GLS63h

Mercedes-Benz SL55

Porsche 718 Cayman 4.0 GT4

Porsche 911 3.7T 992 Turbo

Porsche Cayenne 4.0T V8

Porsche Macan 2.9T V6

Range Rover 4.4 P530 V8

Range Rover 4.4 P615 V8

Range Rover Sport 4.4P V8

Rolls-Royce Cullinan 6.75 V12

Rolls-Royce Ghost 6.75 V12