Major car tax changes could see drivers of popular vehicles slapped with a £5,490 bill - are you at risk?

As part of Budget documents published shortly after the Chancellor's Autumn Statement on October 30, the Government confirmed that car tax changes would be introduced.

It announced that the Government would change the first year rates for Vehicle Excise Duty for new cars on or after April 1, 2025, to incentivise the purchase of new EVs by "widening the differentials between zero emission, hybrid and ICE cars".

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As part of this, zero emission cars will pay the lowest first year rate at £10 until 2029-30, while cars emitting between one and 50g/km of CO2, including hybrid vehicles, will increase to £110 for 2025-26.

Further car tax rates will see cars emitting between 51 and 75g/km of CO2 will increase to £130. However, all other rates for cars emitting more than 76g/km will double.

Britons who buy the most polluting petrol and diesel cars (over 255g/km) from April 1, 2025, are expected to fork out £5,490 when rates double next year.

Changes were also made to Vehicle Excise Duty rates for heavy goods vehicles. These rates will be uprated in line with inflation from April 1, 2025, in addition to the HGV Levy.

Van drivers will also see the Government uprate the Van Benefit Charge and Car and Van Fuel Benefit Charges by CPI from April 6, 2025.

The Budget also acknowledged that the Government may make changes to the Expensive Car Supplement to make it easier to buy electric vehicles, although this would only happen "at a future fiscal event".

With these new changes set to be introduced next year, motorists may be cautious about any new cars they purchase as they could come with an enormous tax bill.

Vehicles, particularly those which pollute more than 255g/km of CO2, could see some motorists pay thousands of pounds extra every year just to keep their vehicles on the road.

New cars emitting over 255g/km of CO2

• 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

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• 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
• Toyota Hilux 2.8D
• Toyota Land Cruiser 2.8D
• Volkswagen Amarok 3.0 TDI