Are people ‘taxing’ EVs early?
Discussion
Seen lots of Twitter activity saying EV drivers are taxing their cars over three months early to basically move the VED year forward..thus in theory meaning that in March 2025, they will tax at the existing NIL rate for another 12 months. This seems odd to me as the renewal date for ICE is fixed in stone unless you SORN it and then start paying again. Is this a known loophole EV people are exploited or are the Twitterites talking nonsense?
Would it even work? Surely if you tax your car three months before the zero rate is due to be abolished then you'll pay an annual amount which relfects three months at the zero rate and nine months at the new rate? It certainly works that way if you tax a car that's due to drop the additonal rate for £40k+ cars during a VED year - you pay an annual sum equal to the relevant amount of months at the higher rate and the relevant number of months at the lower rate.
Bobtherallyfan said:
Seen lots of Twitter activity saying EV drivers are taxing their cars over three months early to basically move the VED year forward..thus in theory meaning that in March 2025, they will tax at the existing NIL rate for another 12 months.
I don't think it works like that.You tax it for 12 months and they just add the months which you should be paying VED for.
TooLateForAName said:
Are they declaring sorn first to reset the date tax is due?
Yes, I believe this is what people are doing The tax renewal is a bit of a joke - I had a leased ipace that did not benefit from the removal of the £400 extra until a year late because the lease company renewed in March and so the cost was at the old rate.
If you renew in March next year it will be at the old rate, but an April renewal will be at the new rate. There is never any x months at old and 12 - x months at new
oop north said:
TooLateForAName said:
Are they declaring sorn first to reset the date tax is due?
Yes, I believe this is what people are doing The tax renewal is a bit of a joke - I had a leased ipace that did not benefit from the removal of the £400 extra until a year late because the lease company renewed in March and so the cost was at the old rate.
If you renew in March next year it will be at the old rate, but an April renewal will be at the new rate. There is never any x months at old and 12 - x months at new
You can re-tax a vehicle any time, just you lose what you've paid for the current year (which is nil for an EV).
For example, my tax was due 1st September 2025. Re-taxed and now it's due 1 March 2025. That'll save me a bit... probably.
Been driving EVs tax free since 2012 so it's a swine that shortly it'll cost more to tax an EV than a small fossil car! 
I've just renewed the tax on my Honda E. It was due in August this year, which would have meant I would have had to pay VED for the first time in August 2025 at whatever rate (£190?) prevails. Hopefully I've now pushed that first payment on till Feb 2026.
While renewing online there's a bit which implies you can only renew early if told to by the DVLA. I ignored that and the process went to completion OK.
The DVLA computer must be flagging up all these early EV road tax renewals and the commensurate loss of dosh to the Exchequer. Wait for the inevitable ban on early renewals for EVs without a change of ownership
I've just renewed the tax on my Honda E. It was due in August this year, which would have meant I would have had to pay VED for the first time in August 2025 at whatever rate (£190?) prevails. Hopefully I've now pushed that first payment on till Feb 2026.
While renewing online there's a bit which implies you can only renew early if told to by the DVLA. I ignored that and the process went to completion OK.
The DVLA computer must be flagging up all these early EV road tax renewals and the commensurate loss of dosh to the Exchequer. Wait for the inevitable ban on early renewals for EVs without a change of ownership
VED is still based on emissions - they'll need to sort that out I would have thought.
I have one car that's £35 a year, another that's £695 and a Tesla - which is going to cost more than one of my petrol cars.... based on emissions.
Truth is, I think EV's should pay road tax - they use the roads. But the system seems a bit odd.
I have one car that's £35 a year, another that's £695 and a Tesla - which is going to cost more than one of my petrol cars.... based on emissions.
Truth is, I think EV's should pay road tax - they use the roads. But the system seems a bit odd.
NDA said:
VED is still based on emissions - they'll need to sort that out I would have thought.
I have one car that's £35 a year, another that's £695 and a Tesla - which is going to cost more than one of my petrol cars.... based on emissions.
Truth is, I think EV's should pay road tax - they use the roads. But the system seems a bit odd.
Only if the car is registered before April 1st 2017, apart from the first year VED which is still based on emissions.I have one car that's £35 a year, another that's £695 and a Tesla - which is going to cost more than one of my petrol cars.... based on emissions.
Truth is, I think EV's should pay road tax - they use the roads. But the system seems a bit odd.
Murph7355 said:
georgeyboy12345 said:
Won’t the higher tax rates just be on new EVs sold after 2025?
Nope. All of them. Edited by HTP99 on Thursday 28th March 12:09
Four Seasons Total Landscaping said:
Been driving EVs tax free since 2012 so it's a swine that shortly it'll cost more to tax an EV than a small fossil car!
…..
My large fossil car (diesel) has been £30/£35 tax since 2014. 60+mpg. Under £300 full insurance. 650+ mile range, saw 800 once.…..
Best/longest i’ve owned a car (60s)
I’ll get a BEV when it finally dies though!
James6112 said:
Four Seasons Total Landscaping said:
Been driving EVs tax free since 2012 so it's a swine that shortly it'll cost more to tax an EV than a small fossil car!
…..
My large fossil car (diesel) has been £30/£35 tax since 2014. 60+mpg. Under £300 full insurance. 650+ mile range, saw 800 once.…..
Best/longest i’ve owned a car (60s)
I’ll get a BEV when it finally dies though!
Four Seasons Total Landscaping said:
Been driving EVs tax free since 2012 so it's a swine that shortly it'll cost more to tax an EV than a small fossil car!
I've just renewed the tax on my Honda E. It was due in August this year, which would have meant I would have had to pay VED for the first time in August 2025 at whatever rate (£190?) prevails. Hopefully I've now pushed that first payment on till Feb 2026.
While renewing online there's a bit which implies you can only renew early if told to by the DVLA. I ignored that and the process went to completion OK.
The DVLA computer must be flagging up all these early EV road tax renewals and the commensurate loss of dosh to the Exchequer. Wait for the inevitable ban on early renewals for EVs without a change of ownership
Just done exactly the same on our E. Was due August, now due the following March.I've just renewed the tax on my Honda E. It was due in August this year, which would have meant I would have had to pay VED for the first time in August 2025 at whatever rate (£190?) prevails. Hopefully I've now pushed that first payment on till Feb 2026.
While renewing online there's a bit which implies you can only renew early if told to by the DVLA. I ignored that and the process went to completion OK.
The DVLA computer must be flagging up all these early EV road tax renewals and the commensurate loss of dosh to the Exchequer. Wait for the inevitable ban on early renewals for EVs without a change of ownership
Nice one!
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