Diesel owners set for ‘higher VED rates’ with £5,690 bill
Diesel owners will pay higher Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates within weeks as major updates come into effect from April 1, 2026. Experts at AutoTrader have warned that cars which don’t meet strict new diesel emission standards could fall into the highest tax brackets this spring.First-year rates for brand-new cars were doubled last year, with bills for the highest-polluting models emitting over 255g/km rising from £2,745 to £5,490. However, these charges are subject to annual inflationary rises with estimates suggesting a £200 rise, which would push total costs to £5,690 per year.AutoTrader said: “If you drive a diesel car that doesn’t meet the Real Driving Emissions 2 (RDE2) standards, you will have to pay higher first-year VED, which means your tax bracket will fall in one higher Band...










