---
title: "EV Road Tax Explained: VED, the Expensive Car Supplement and eVED in One Table (2026)"
url: https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained
publisher: EV Cable Hub
author: Jake Wardle
published: 2026-11-01
updated: 2026-11-03
market: United Kingdom, prices in GBP
licence: free reuse with a followed link to the source article, https://evcablehub.co.uk/pages/research-licence
tables: 4
csv_files: 4
---

# EV Road Tax Explained: VED, the Expensive Car Supplement and eVED in One Table (2026)

This is the agent-readable version of [EV Road Tax Explained: VED, the Expensive Car Supplement and eVED in One Table (2026)](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained), published by EV Cable Hub on 1 November 2026 and last updated on 3 November 2026. It holds the full article text, every table as a Markdown table, the datasets behind the figures, and how to cite them. Quote figures with the page URL above, not this file.

## Summary

An average-mileage EV under £40,000 pays £432 in road tax in 2028-29 once eVED is added to VED, or £902 over £40,000. Every VED rate, the expensive car supplement and eVED by registration date, price and mileage.

## How to cite

Source: EV Cable Hub, "EV Road Tax Explained: VED, the Expensive Car Supplement and eVED in One Table (2026)", https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained, updated 3 November 2026.

Online, the credit must be a followed HTML link to the article (no rel="nofollow", "sponsored" or "ugc"). Terms: https://evcablehub.co.uk/pages/research-licence

## Datasets

### EV Road Tax Explained: VED, Supplement and eVED (2026)

UK electric car road tax by registration date, list price band and mileage: VED, expensive car supplement and eVED, 2025-26 to 2030-31.

- Period covered: 2026
- Area: United Kingdom
- Variables: VED; Expensive car supplement; eVED; Total road tax
- Files: Table 1: Annual EV road tax by registration date and list price, average mileage (https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-1.csv?v=c620068831); Table 2: Popular EVs: entry list price and supplement status if registered from 1 April 2026 (https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-2.csv?v=be2cae8331); Table 3: Total road tax in 2028-29 by annual mileage, EV registered in 2025-26 (https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-3.csv?v=797e6c6a97); Table 4: Six-year road tax, EV vs PHEV vs petrol, registered 2025-26, 7,400 miles (https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-4.csv?v=d5e5042430)

## Tables in this article

1. Table 1: Annual EV road tax by registration date and list price, average mileage (https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-01), CSV https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-1.csv?v=c620068831
2. Table 2: Popular EVs: entry list price and supplement status if registered from 1 April 2026 (https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-02), CSV https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-2.csv?v=be2cae8331
3. Table 3: Total road tax in 2028-29 by annual mileage, EV registered in 2025-26 (https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-03), CSV https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-3.csv?v=797e6c6a97
4. Table 4: Six-year road tax, EV vs PHEV vs petrol, registered 2025-26, 7,400 miles (https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-04), CSV https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-4.csv?v=d5e5042430

## Article

An electric car at average mileage, listed under £40,000 and registered in 2025-26, paid **£10** in road tax in its first year and will pay **£432** in 2028-29, once 3p-a-mile eVED is added to standard VED. Over £40,000, the same car pays **£902** that year. Here is every VED rate, the expensive car supplement and eVED in one place, for every registration date and price band.

£432

Road tax for an average-mileage EV under £40,000 in 2028-29

£902

The same EV over £40,000 in 2028-29

47%

of EV and PHEV drivers think eVED will replace VED (it is added on top)

By the EV Cable Hub Research Team. Data: EV Cable Hub modelling of published VED rates, the eVED rate confirmed in the Autumn Budget 2026, price tracking of 412 new EV trims and a survey of 1,214 drivers. Last updated November 2026. [How we worked this out](#how-we-worked-this-out)

Key findings

- An average-mileage EV registered in 2025-26 under £40,000 pays **£10** in 2025-26, **£200** in 2026-27, **£205** in 2027-28 and **£432** in 2028-29.
- Over £40,000, it pays **£640** in 2026-27 and **£902** in 2028-29, because the £440 expensive car supplement runs from year two to year six.
- eVED adds **£222** a year at 7,400 miles from April 2028: just over half the road tax bill for an EV under the threshold.
- For EVs first registered from 1 April 2026 the supplement threshold is **£50,000**, which takes 19% of new EV trims out of it.
- **46%** of the 412 new EV trims on sale on 31 October 2026 were listed over £40,000 and **27%** over £50,000.
- Older EVs registered before April 2017 pay **£20** a year until eVED arrives, then £242 a year at average mileage.
- Only **61%** of drivers knew electric cars now pay VED.

**Table 1: Annual EV road tax by registration date and list price, average mileage** ([view on page](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-01))

| Registered | List price | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | Five years 2026-27 to 2030-31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2001 to Mar 2017 | Any | £20 | £20 | £20 | £242 | £766 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2025 (2023-24 car) | Under £40,000 | £195 | £200 | £205 | £432 | £1,716 |
| Apr 2017 to Mar 2025 (2023-24 car) | Over £40,000 | £620 | £640 | £660 | £902 | £3,081 |
| Apr 2025 to Mar 2026 | Under £40,000 | £10 | £200 | £205 | £432 | £1,716 |
| Apr 2025 to Mar 2026 | Over £40,000 | £10 | £640 | £660 | £902 | £4,066 |
| From 1 Apr 2026 | Under £50,000 | - | £10 | £205 | £432 | £1,526 |
| From 1 Apr 2026 | Over £50,000 | - | £10 | £660 | £902 | £3,436 |
| VED, expensive car supplement and eVED combined, at 7,400 miles a year. Rates after 2026-27 are EV Cable Hub modelling of RPI rises. |  |  |  |  |  |  |

CSV: https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-1.csv?v=c620068831

### Three parts make up an EV's road tax

For most of the last two decades, electric cars paid nothing to tax. That ended on 1 April 2025, when zero-emission cars moved into vehicle excise duty. The Autumn Budget of 28 October 2026 then added a third layer, eVED, from April 2028.

From 2028-29 an EV owner's road tax is the sum of three parts: the standard VED rate; the expensive car supplement, if the car's list price was over the threshold when first registered; and eVED for every mile driven. 27% of drivers in our survey still thought electric cars were exempt.

### The standard rate: £200 in 2026-27

The standard VED rate for an EV registered from 1 April 2017 is £200 a year in 2026-27, up from £195. We model it at £205 in 2027-28 after the RPI rise confirmed in the Budget, and £210 in 2028-29. New EVs pay £10 in their first year, then the standard rate.

It is the same flat rate a petrol, diesel or hybrid car of the same age pays. Since April 2025 there is no road tax discount for driving electric once a car is past its first year. Paying by monthly direct debit adds 5%.

### The expensive car supplement: £440 a year for five years

The supplement adds £440 a year in 2026-27 to any EV listed over the threshold when first registered, from its second year to its sixth. For a car registered in 2025-26, the five payments total £2,350. A car listed at £39,995 pays the standard rate; one listed at £40,005 pays more than three times as much each year.

The list price includes options and VAT; dealer discounts do not count. The supplement follows the car, not the owner, so a used EV listed over £40,000 when new still pays it until its sixth year.

### The £50,000 threshold for EVs registered from April 2026

For a fully electric car first registered on or after 1 April 2026, the supplement applies only above £50,000. That removes 79 of the 412 new EV trims on sale from the supplement. Plug-in hybrids, petrol and diesel cars keep the £40,000 line, and so do EVs registered before April 2026, which creates a cliff edge in the used market. The higher threshold saves the buyer of a £45,000 EV £2,425 across its five supplement years.

**Table 2: Popular EVs: entry list price and supplement status if registered from 1 April 2026** ([view on page](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-02))

| Model and entry trim | Entry list price | Supplement? | 2028-29 road tax at 7,400 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y RWD | £44,990 | No | £432 |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | £39,990 | No | £432 |
| Kia EV3 Air 58kWh | £33,005 | No | £432 |
| Skoda Elroq 50 | £31,500 | No | £432 |
| MG4 EV SE | £26,995 | No | £432 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 Premium 84kWh | £45,250 | No | £432 |
| Kia EV6 Air RWD | £44,975 | No | £432 |
| BMW i4 eDrive35 Sport | £51,280 | Yes | £902 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron 45 Sport | £50,220 | Yes | £902 |
| Polestar 4 Long Range Single Motor | £60,300 | Yes | £902 |
| Kia EV9 Air | £65,025 | Yes | £902 |
| List prices from EV Cable Hub price tracking, 31 October 2026. Upper trims of several models (Model Y Long Range, Ioniq 5 Ultimate, EV6 GT-Line S) cross £50,000 and pay the supplement. |  |  |  |

CSV: https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-2.csv?v=be2cae8331

### eVED from April 2028: 3p a mile on top of VED

eVED charges 3p a mile for EVs and 1.5p for plug-in hybrids from April 2028. At 7,400 miles that is £222 a year, and it is added to VED rather than replacing it. eVED equals the standard VED rate at 7,000 miles a year; above that, it becomes the bigger part of an EV's road tax bill.

The estimation tool, opt-in eVED Connect reporting and automated rebates by 2030 decide how you pay it. Our [eVED calculator](https://evcablehub.co.uk/pages/eved-calculator) works out your bill, and [eVED vs fuel duty](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/eved-vs-fuel-duty) compares it with what petrol drivers pay.

**Table 3: Total road tax in 2028-29 by annual mileage, EV registered in 2025-26** ([view on page](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-03))

| Annual mileage | eVED | Total under £40,000 | Total over £40,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,000 | £90 | £300 | £770 |
| 5,000 | £150 | £360 | £830 |
| 7,400 (UK average) | £222 | £432 | £902 |
| 10,000 | £300 | £510 | £980 |
| 15,000 | £450 | £660 | £1,130 |
| 20,000 | £600 | £810 | £1,280 |

CSV: https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-3.csv?v=797e6c6a97

### EV vs plug-in hybrid vs petrol over six years

Over six years from a 2025-26 registration, an average-mileage EV under £40,000 pays £1,726 in road tax, a little more than a plug-in hybrid (£1,493) or a 111-130g/km petrol car (£1,490). The petrol car pays much more in its first year, and from August 2027 it also pays about £433 a year in fuel duty, which is why road tax alone does not decide the comparison.

**Table 4: Six-year road tax, EV vs PHEV vs petrol, registered 2025-26, 7,400 miles** ([view on page](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-road-tax-explained#table-04))

| Car | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2028-29 | Six-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV under £40,000 | £10 | £200 | £432 | £1,726 |
| PHEV 1-50g/km under £40,000 | £110 | £200 | £321 | £1,493 |
| Petrol 111-130g/km under £40,000 | £440 | £200 | £210 | £1,490 |
| Petrol 151-170g/km under £40,000 | £1,360 | £200 | £210 | £2,410 |
| EV over £40,000 | £10 | £640 | £902 | £4,076 |
| Petrol 111-130g/km over £40,000 | £440 | £640 | £680 | £3,840 |

CSV: https://evcablehub.co.uk/cdn/shop/files/evch-ev-road-tax-explained-table-4.csv?v=d5e5042430

### How to pay less EV road tax, legally

The biggest saving is buying a new EV listed at or under £50,000, which avoids five years of supplement: up to £2,425. After that, each 1,000 fewer miles saves £30 a year in eVED from 2028, and paying VED annually rather than monthly saves £10 to £32 a year. For the wider picture of running costs, see [EV vs petrol: the true cost over five years](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-vs-petrol-true-cost).

### How we worked this out

Rates for 2025-26 and 2026-27 are the published VED rates. Later years model RPI rises at 3.4%: the standard rate reaches £205 in 2027-28 and £210 in 2028-29, and the supplement £455 and £470. eVED is the 3p-a-mile rate confirmed in the Autumn Budget of 28 October 2026, applied from April 2028 at 7,400 miles a year. List prices come from EV Cable Hub's tracking of 412 new EV trims on 31 October 2026. The driver survey questioned 1,214 EV and plug-in hybrid drivers after the Budget.

### EV road tax: your questions answered

**Q: Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?**

Yes. £200 a year at the standard rate in 2026-27 for an EV registered from 1 April 2017, or £10 in the first year for a new EV. EVs registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pay £20 a year, and EVs listed over the threshold pay the £440 supplement in years two to six.

**Q: What is the expensive car supplement for electric cars?**

£440 a year in 2026-27, paid in years two to six on any EV with a list price over £40,000, or over £50,000 for EVs first registered from 1 April 2026. Over five years it adds £2,350 for a car registered in 2025-26.

**Q: Is the EV supplement threshold £40,000 or £50,000?**

£50,000 for a fully electric car first registered on or after 1 April 2026; £40,000 for EVs registered before that and for all other fuel types, including plug-in hybrids.

**Q: Does eVED replace VED?**

No. From April 2028 an EV pays eVED on top of VED: about £210 VED plus £222 eVED, £432 in total, for an average-mileage EV under the threshold in 2028-29.

**Q: How much road tax will my EV pay in 2028?**

£432 for an average-mileage EV under the supplement threshold in 2028-29, and £902 for one paying the supplement. At 5,000 miles the under-threshold figure is £360; at 20,000 miles, £810.

**Q: Do I pay the supplement on a used EV?**

Yes, if it was listed over £40,000 when first registered and is in its second to sixth year. The supplement follows the car, not the owner.

Further reading

- [eVED calculator](https://evcablehub.co.uk/pages/eved-calculator)
- [eVED vs fuel duty](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/eved-vs-fuel-duty)
- [What the Autumn Budget 2026 means for EV drivers](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/budget-ev-drivers)
- [EV vs petrol: the true cost](https://evcablehub.co.uk/blogs/journal/ev-vs-petrol-true-cost)