If you are concerned about the annual cost of a VED license you may want to consider your car replacement options before the new VED regime starts April 2017. It will apply to all cars first registered after 1 April 2017.
From this date, VED will still be based on CO2 emissions, but the present generous rates for low CO2 vehicles will largely disappear. The only exception is zero emission vehicles which will continue to have a £0 charge.
VED will be split into two bands: a starter band, which will apply for the first year, and a standard rate, which will apply to subsequent years of ownership.
The rates gradually increase for the initial starter band. For emissions between 1 to 50g/km the starter rate is just £10. At the other extreme, cars with a CO2 rating in excess of 255g/km, the starter rate is a significant £2,000.
Owners of all vehicles with a CO2 emission rate in excess of 0g/km will then pay an annual, standard rate of £140 for the second and subsequent years of ownership.
Finally, cars with a list price above £40,000 will pay a supplement of £310 a year for the first 5 years at which the standard rate is applied. i.e. the annual standard rate for these vehicles will be £450 not £140.
