Electric vehicle tax calculator: how much could I pay?
What is the new electric vehicle tax (eVED)?
The new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) is a pay-per-mile tax that will be coming into force in April 2028. It will apply to drivers of UK-registered fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars.
The eVED tax will be in addition to the standard Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), also called road tax, which electric vehicle drivers had to start paying in April 2025.
How much is the new electric vehicle tax?
When launched in 2028, the new charge will be 3p per mile for battery electric cars. For plug-in hybrid cars, it will be 1.5p per mile. So an electric car owner who drives 10,000 miles a year would pay an annual charge of £300.
To see how much you might personally pay a year, add your estimated mileage into this calculator.
📣 Did you know? From 2028 if you drive from London to Manchester (around 200 miles) in an electric car, the eVED add an extra £6 to your journey.
How will the new electric vehicle pay-per-mile tax work?
Each year EV drivers will be asked to submit an estimated annual mileage to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and pay the fee based on that. You will be able to pay upfront or in instalments.
At the end of the year you will submit an odometer reading to the DVLA. If you drove more miles than originally predicted, you'll need to pay extra eVED. If you drove fewer miles the difference will be converted into credit for the next year.
Will the new tax make EVs more expensive to run than petrol or diesel cars?
Not necessarily. The new eVED charge is significantly lower than the fuel duty paid by petrol and diesel drivers, which it is designed to be the equivalent of.
Fuel duty is a tax paid by petrol and diesel drivers at the pump. The amount paid depends on how far they drive and how fuel-efficient their car is. However, the UK government estimates that petrol and diesel drivers pay 6p per mile in fuel duty on average, double the eVED rate of 3p per mile.
Of course, fuel duty and eVED aren't the only costs of running a car. Whether an electric vehicle is cheaper to own and run than a comparable petrol or diesel car will depend on factors such as:
Cost of the car or car finance
Repairs, servicing and MOTs
Frequently asked questions
Why is the UK government introducing a new tax on electric vehicles?
The government says the new tax is intended to help replace declining fuel duty revenue as more drivers switch to electric vehicles.
Electric vehicle drivers also benefit from publicly funded infrastructure, such as road maintenance and repairs, but don't pay fuel duty. The government's argument is that they should contribute towards these costs in a similar way to petrol and diesel drivers.
Can I get a refund if I overpay my eVED?
Usually, no. If you pay for more miles than you drive, you'll normally receive a credit towards the following year's tax instead. For example, if you paid for 20,000 miles but only drove 15,000, your first 5,000 miles the following year would already be paid for.
There are some exceptions to this rule. For example, refunds can be given if the refund requested is over £100 and you have had a change of circumstances that makes you at risk of financial hardship. Refunds may also be possible if your car is stolen or your odometer is damaged beyond repair, but this hasn't been fully confirmed yet.
The government has said it will support refunds in additional situations, including changes of vehicle keeper, but these won't be available automatically when eVED launches in April 2028. Further details are expected by the end of 2026.
What happens if I underestimate my mileage for the eVED?
If you drive more miles in your electric vehicle than you estimated you would, you will simply need to pay the difference. You will be able to do this mid-year or at the end of the tax year.
Will the government know how many miles I drive?
Yes. You'll need to provide an odometer reading each year when renewing your vehicle tax. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will normally verify these readings through MOT tests.
If your electric car is too new to need an MOT, you won't usually need a separate mileage check until its first MOT. However, the DVLA could require an earlier check if it reasonably suspects fraud or non-compliance.
Will international visitors have to pay eVED when driving in the UK?
No. The new electric vehicle tax will only apply to UK-registered electric and plug-in hybrid cars. If you're an international driver visiting the UK in an electric vehicle registered in another country, you won't have to pay eVED, regardless of how many miles you drive during your visit.
However, if you're driving a UK-registered electric vehicle, eVED will apply.
Reviewer
Beth Leslie
Senior Insurance Content Editor
Beth is an experienced writer and editor who specialises in financial and economic content. She is currently the Senior Insurance Content Editor for MoneySuperMarket. Beth is passionate about making...
