The biggest culprit is boring old inflation. Every April, the government quietly indexes road tax to the Retail Price Index (RPI). That means your tax goes up by about 6.7% just because the cost of bread and petrol went up.
Imagine your barista charging you extra because the price of coffee beans rose. That’s what the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) did. They didn’t even send a warning text.
To be fair, they’re not just being mean. The Treasury needs to pay for potholes, new bridges, and those fancy camera vans that catch you doing 31 in a 30. But still—it stings.
V11 reminder: What is it - and how do I get one?
Electric Cars: The False Prophet
You thought buying an electric car would save you from this nightmare? Ha! From April 2026, electric cars lose their tax-free status. They’ll now pay the standard rate, just like your neighbour’s diesel.
The joke is on early adopters. If you bought a Tesla two years ago, you saved a fortune. Now, you’re paying £190 a year to drive a silent, eco-friendly toaster. The government calls it "fairness." I call it "taxing the future."
And here’s a funny twist: electric cars are so heavy (batteries, mate) that they’ll soon face a road tax premium for weight. Yes—they’re taxed for being too fat for the roads.
