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North Wales Live
2 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
How to check using a number plate checker if the £150 DVLA car tax increase affects you
Motorists can use a number plate checker tool to see if they will be affected by the DVLA's £150 car tax increase. The AA is warning drivers that the change could have a significant impact on many people's finances. For many drivers, especially those with older fuel-efficient cars, the change in VED could lead to a steep rise in their car tax bill. Experts warn that vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017, which are still taxed under the older CO2-based system, are most at risk for the increase. According to roadside assistance expert Jack Cousens, the changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) could be a "major financial shock" for millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the old system. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here He said: "VED changes and future increases threaten a major financial shock to the finances of millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the 2001-2017 CO2-banded system." Cousens highlighted the impact on drivers with older, eco-friendly models, saying: "For those with ageing low-CO2 small family and city cars, the transition to the current standard VED rate could see a hike of £150 or more a year on their motoring tax. "With the average car currently paying £436.84 in fuel duty a year – or £524.21 when VAT is added at the pump – a £150 increase in the VED they will pay represents a 34% hike on top of what they are already paying in fuel duty." Drivers can use WeBuyAnyCar's free online service to quickly find out details about their vehicle, including its engine size, power output, and CO2 emissions. The car valuation provider details: "What's more, if you run the vehicle's plate number through our reg plate checker, we can provide you with the following information in an instant: Year and registration date, Make, model, colour, fuel and transmission type, Engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2 (g/km), Whether the vehicle is imported," reports the Liverpool Echo. It will also offer insights into "the number of previous keepers – and the date ownership was transferred to the current keeper," plus "tax status, tax due date and MOT history." Typically, your car's registration number can be found on the number plates at the front and back of the vehicle. It can also be located in the vehicle's V5C logbook. The advice for potential buyers of used cars is to note down the registration number and use a licence plate check tool. It said: "If you are thinking about buying a used car, we would recommend making a note of the registration number and running it through our licence plate check tool. This will help to ensure everything meets with your expectations."
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
How to check using a number plate checker if the £150 DVLA car tax increase affects you
How to check using a number plate checker if the £150 DVLA car tax increase affects you The DVLA car tax is set to increase for some drivers but many are unaware that they will be affected This tool will help drivers determine if the rise affects them Motorists can use a number plate checker tool to see if they will be affected by the DVLA's £150 car tax increase. The AA is warning drivers that the change could have a significant impact on many people's finances. For many drivers, especially those with older fuel-efficient cars, the change in VED could lead to a steep rise in their car tax bill. Experts warn that vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017, which are still taxed under the older CO2-based system, are most at risk for the increase. According to roadside assistance expert Jack Cousens, the changes to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) could be a "major financial shock" for millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the old system. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here He said: "VED changes and future increases threaten a major financial shock to the finances of millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the 2001-2017 CO2-banded system." Cousens highlighted the impact on drivers with older, eco-friendly models, saying: "For those with ageing low-CO2 small family and city cars, the transition to the current standard VED rate could see a hike of £150 or more a year on their motoring tax. "With the average car currently paying £436.84 in fuel duty a year – or £524.21 when VAT is added at the pump – a £150 increase in the VED they will pay represents a 34% hike on top of what they are already paying in fuel duty." Drivers can use WeBuyAnyCar's free online service to quickly find out details about their vehicle, including its engine size, power output, and CO2 emissions. The car valuation provider details: "What's more, if you run the vehicle's plate number through our reg plate checker, we can provide you with the following information in an instant: Year and registration date, Make, model, colour, fuel and transmission type, Engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2 (g/km), Whether the vehicle is imported," reports the Liverpool Echo. It will also offer insights into "the number of previous keepers – and the date ownership was transferred to the current keeper," plus "tax status, tax due date and MOT history." Typically, your car's registration number can be found on the number plates at the front and back of the vehicle. It can also be located in the vehicle's V5C logbook. The advice for potential buyers of used cars is to note down the registration number and use a licence plate check tool. Article continues below It said: "If you are thinking about buying a used car, we would recommend making a note of the registration number and running it through our licence plate check tool. This will help to ensure everything meets with your expectations."
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Record
Motorists urged 'check number plate' to see if they owe DVLA £150 tax hike
With new car tax rates in force, drivers can use a useful online tool to see what they owe instantly With Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) having increased for many drivers since April 1 and warnings that it increase in car tax could cause a 'major financial shock' for motorists, it is important to know what you owe. Vehicle tax changes mean that those with an ageing, low CO2 emission vehicle are facing a rise of £150 a year in the charge. The AA has warned that the new rates could be a shock to road users. Jack Cousens said millions of motorists will have to pay more in VED. And he said this, coupled with annual fuel duty, means drivers, from across the spectrum of vehicles, are being hit hard in the pocket. He said: "VED changes and future increases threaten a major financial shock to the finances of millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the 2001-2017 CO2 -banded system. "For those with ageing low-CO2 small family and city cars, the transition to the current standard VED rate could see a hike of £150 or more a year on their motoring tax." He added: "With the average car currently paying £436.84 in fuel duty a year – or £524.21 when VAT is added at the pump – a £150 increase in the VED they will pay represents a 34% hike on top of what they are paying in fuel duty." Drivers who have no idea how much they need to pay can find out quickly by using WeBuyAnyCar's free online number plate checker. The handy online tool allows you to enter your vehicle registration and it will calculate their vehicle's engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2 (g/km). This means they can then calculate their VED over the next year. And the number plate checker also details your tax status, your due date and MOT history meaning owners can ensure it is all in order and avoid any penalties. The DVLA will issue an £80 fine for those who fail to renew their vehicle tax. And not having your car taxed can also result in your insurance being voided, so it's crucial to know what and when you owe it. VED can be paid in one instalment for the year or it can be split into monthly payments with a direct debit. The number plate checker is also a useful tool if you are looking at buying a used car. WeBuyAnyCar says: "What's more, if you run the vehicle's plate number through our reg plate checker, we can provide you with the following information in an instant: Year and registration date, make, model, colour, fuel and transmission type, Engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2 (g/km), whether the vehicle is imported." It can also tell buyers the number of previous owners the vehicle has had and the date ownership was transferred to the current keeper. Data shows that 58 per cent of drivers are subject to the older vehicle VED scheme, which is based on CO2 emissions. VED prices are also up for new petrol, diesel and electric models registered after 2017 with standard fees up from £190 to £195. Meanwhile, vehicles registered between 1985 and 2001 will pay up to £20 more in VED fees with prices calculated based on the size of their engine. Check your number plate here.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Drivers can use this number plate checker to see if they need to pay £150 tax
The DVLA raised VED rates on April 1 for the majority of petrol, diesel, and electric vehicle owners, leading to significant increases for some drivers - Here's how to check if you're affected Car tax went up on April 1 and you can check if you've been impacted by using a simple online tool. The DVLA introduced the latest vehicle excise duty (VED) rates on April 1. VED - more commonly known as car tax - is paid every year and is a legal requirement for all vehicles registered in the UK. Anyone who fails to tax their vehicle on time faces being hit with an £80 fine, as well as voiding their car insurance. You need to pay tax when the vehicle is first registered and this covers the car for the next 12 months. You then pay vehicle tax every six or 12 months after this at a different rate. Cars registered between March 1, 2001 to March 31, 2017 are taxed based on their CO2 emissions. Cars registered on or after April 1, 2017 pay a first-year figure according to their emissions, and this is different for every car this group, then pay the same flat rate going forward. The AA have warned that for many, this will hit wallets hard, with breakdown expert Jack Cousens warning of a "major financial shock". He said: "VED changes and future increases threaten a major financial shock to the finances of millions of car owners whose vehicles are still paying VED under the 2001-2017 CO2-banded system." Cousens noted that those with older, eco-friendlier cars might face a sudden and steep increase in their car tax bills, adding: "For those with ageing low-CO2 small family and city cars, the transition to the current standard VED rate could see a hike of £150 or more a year on their motoring tax." He further underscored the existing pressure on vehicle owners' purses, highlighting the already hefty annual fuel duties faced by drivers before this tax rise. He said: "With the average car currently paying £436.84 in fuel duty a year – or £524.21 when VAT is added at the pump – a £150 increase in the VED they will pay represents a 34% hike on top of what they are paying in fuel duty." Government data reveals that a significant 58% of UK motorists are subject to the older vehicle VED scheme, which is based on CO2 emissions. Motorists can quickly find out their vehicle's engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2 (g/km) using WeBuyAnyCar's free online number plate checker. The online tool helps drivers calculate how much they'll need to pay for VED over the next year. The number plate checker also provides information on tax status, tax due date, and MOT history. From April 1, rates for cars emitting between one and 50 grams of CO2 per kilometre, including hybrid vehicles, increased from £10 to £110 for 2025-26 for the first year. Similar hikes were introduced for cars emitting 51-75g/km of CO2 ,with the cost going from £30 to £130. The biggest price hike was seen for owners of vehicles that emit 76g/km of CO2 and above going to from £135 to £270. Brits who buy the most polluting petrol and diesel cars (over 255g/km) now need to fork out £5,490 - up from the £2745 before. First-year VED rate for new zero-emission vehicles have remained low at £10 until the 2029-30 tax year - although it is £10 more than what drivers previously paid. From the second tax payment onwards, EV drivers pay the standard rate which is £195.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Charging an electric car at home is still CHEAPER than filling up with petrol
EV charging at home still saves motorists a significant amount of money per mile compared to filling up a conventional car with petrol, despite the Ofgem energy price cap rise coming in. The AA's latest EV Recharge Report for March shows that electric car owners who charge at home pay just 5.6p/mile for standard rate domestic charging. This compares to 11.8p/mile running a petrol car costs due to stubborn pump prices. It continues to highlight the low running costs benefits of EVs for those with access to home charging. And while there was a lot of noise made around a predicted fall in petrol prices, retailers ripping motorists off at the pumps by failing to pass on savings means they're still paying far more per mile than EV drivers. This is despite the Ofgem energy price cap increase from 1 April - a 6.4 per cent hike compared to the end of March. But those powering their EVs from home still only pay 5.6p a mile on the worst case tariff, the AA says. The Recharge Report found that the average price of petrol was down to 134.7p a litre last week - just 0.4p a litre below the low-point in March - even though a £3-a-tank saving at the petrol pumps was forecasted a fortnight before. The cost of per mile petrol driving was left at 11.8p a mile. Even after the weekend, the average petrol price was only down to 134.3p a litre. Home charging on the most expensive standard rate cost just 5.65p a mile; it means expensive variable rate kerbside charging still provides a saving of nearly 2p a mile over petrol. While there's still a 'driveway divide', with EV owners without off-street parking who are therefore reliant on the pricier public charging network, there are still promising savings compared to petrol, the AA reports. Jack Cousens, head of roads policy, said: 'The drop in peak rate slow charging is good news for EV owners without a driveway. 'Closing the gap on the so-called 'pavement tax' is a positive step, but the government missed the chance to take bold action by retaining the 20 per cent VAT rate on public charging at the Spring Statement.' Even the most expensive unplanned charge on the public network has seen a drop in average costs of 5.8 per cent to leave the price per miles of ultra-rapid peak less than 3p a mile more than petrol, closing that gap. Off-peak rapid charging though is still beating petrol per mile, now at 10.62p a mile compared to 11.86p per mile for petrol. Calculations are based on adding 80 per cent charge to a Vauxhall e-Corsa, 50kW, with a WLTP range of 221 miles - this equates to 178 miles of range - and filling a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2-litre petrol's 40-litre tank to 80 per cent full (32 litres). MARCH 2025 FLAT RATES Charge Type Speed Mar Ave (p/kWh) Feb Ave (p/kWh) Difference (p/kWh) Cost to add 80% charge Pence per mile (p/mile) Domestic Up to 7kW 25 25 0 £10.00 5.65 Slow Up to 8kW 50 50 0 £20.00 11.3 Fast 8-49kW 60 59 1 £24.00 13.56 Rapid 50-149kW 74 74 0 £29.60 16.72 Ultra-rapid +150kW 78 78 0 £31.20 17.63 PETROL 135.60 ppl 139.80 ppl -4.20 ppl £43.39 11.86 Source - AA EV Recharge Report March MARCH 2025 PEAK AND OFF PEAK RATES Charge Type Speed Mar Ave (p/kWh) Feb Ave (p/kWh) Difference (p/kWh) Cost to add 80% charge Pence per mile (p/mile) Slow Off-Peak Up to 8kW 44 44 0 £17.60 9.94 Slow Peak Up to 8kW 65 69 -4 £26.00 14.69 Fast Off-Peak 8-49kW 54 54 0 £21.60 12.2 Fast Peak 8-49kW 85 85 0 £34.00 19.21 Rapid Off-Peak 50-149kW 54 54 0 £21.60 12.2 Rapid Peak 50-149kW 85 85 0 £34.00 19.21 Ultra-rapid Off-Peak +150KW 47 47 0 £18.80 10.62 Ultra-rapid Peak +150kW 65 65 0 £26.00 14.69 PETROL 135.60 ppl 139.80 ppl -4.20 ppl £43.39 11.86 Source - AA EV Recharge Report March The report coincides with new charging updates from the Department for Transport Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics: April 2025 that show there's been a 28 per cent increase in publicly available chargepoints over the last 12 months. There are a total of 76,507 charging devices, of which a fifth are classified as rapid or ultra-rapid, meaning drivers can stop and recharge their car quickly. There's also been a 25 per cent increase in the number of on-street electric vehicle chargers compared to April 2024, and an eight per cent increase compared to January 2025. However, Vauxhall - which works with councils and leading charge point providers through its Electric Streets of Britain campaign - has highlighted that the figures show there's has been a drop in the number of public charge points in some regions of the UK, with the North East and Northern Ireland reporting lower levels in April compared to January. In response to this regional irregularity, Vauxhall's Electric Streets Director, Phil Douglas, said that the 'encouraging' rise in on-street chargers needs to be managed with the 'importance' of the 'devices being installed in the right place' in mind. 'The fact that public charging device figures have actually fallen in the North East and Northern Ireland since the start of the year is surprising', he commented. 'Through Electric Streets of Britain, over 1,000 residents in the North East and Northern Ireland have registered the need for on-street charging near them. 'It is important that local authorities continue to consider the needs of drivers nationwide to make sure no part of the country is left behind on the electrification journey.'
