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Car tax in 2026: EVs now pay (Wales included)
Vehicle Excise Duty is the same in Wales as in the rest of the UK. From 1 April 2026 most cars registered after 2017 pay £200 a year. Electric cars pay as well. There is no Welsh discount.
Source: GOV.UK — electric vehicle tax · Checked: 2026-09-08 · Wales
Vehicle Excise Duty is national. Wales does not set a cheaper band. You tax the car with DVLA. Most cars still need a valid MOT to tax.
GOV.UK rates below apply 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027 (vehicle tax for electric and low emission vehicles, updated 2 April 2026).
Electric cars
- First registered on or after 1 April 2025: £10 in year one, then the £200 standard rate
- First registered 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2025: £200
- First registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017: £20
Most other post-2017 cars
The standard annual rate from April 2026 is £200 for petrol, diesel and alternatively fuelled cars in that system. Hybrids lost the old £10 discount.
MOT still sits underneath
You cannot usually tax a car that needs an MOT without a valid test. The Class 4 cap is still £54.85 — see how much an MOT costs in Wales.
Common questions
- Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?
- Yes. GOV.UK: EVs registered from 1 April 2025 pay £10 in the first year, then the £200 standard rate. EVs registered April 2017–March 2025 pay £200. Older EVs (March 2001–March 2017) pay £20.
- Is car tax cheaper in Wales?
- No. Vehicle Excise Duty is set by the UK government. You still need a valid MOT to tax most cars.
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