Older drivers over 70 paying new VED car tax in | Tech News

State pensioners over the age of 70 have been hit with new car tax costs in 2026, with payments up throughout the board. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) car tax payments are normally calculated based mostly on the age of the vehicle and the emissions it produces, with the motive force’s age not taken under consideration.

Unlike some charges, older street customers aren’t exempt from paying VED street tax based mostly on their own age, that means over-70s pay the identical as everybody else. It means state pensioners have been slapped with hefty tax rises in 2026, with payments rising back in April.

Petrol and diesel automobiles registered after 2017 noticed the usual VED price rise from £195 to £200 per yr. Brand new combustion automobiles in their first yr on the street had been hit with staggering payments, with some prices up by as a lot as £200 to hit £5,690 per yr in a main blow.

It comes simply a yr after first-year tax charges had been dramatically doubled, with costs leaping from £2,745 to £5,490 for the 2025/26 tax yr. Vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017 pay fee based mostly on emissions, with the highest-polluting automobiles emitting over 255g/km of CO2 now charged up to £790 to make use of the roads.

Prices had been even up for automobiles registered earlier than 2001, with fashionable classics paying up to £15 more to drive for the reason that begin of the new tax yr.

However, automobiles exceeding the £50,000 listing price will now pay £440 on high of their present tax charges as an alternative of £425 per yr.

Only automobiles registered more than 40 years in the past dodge paying VED charges due to the historic tax exemption guidelines. It means automobiles constructed earlier than 1986 don’t need to pay to make use of the roads in a main enhance for traditional car homeowners.