1+ week, 2+ day ago (527+ words) Drivers could slash "3,750 off the price of the new Nissan LEAF following the UK Government's decision to broaden its Electric Car Grant (ECG) scheme today. The ECG was introduced earlier this year as part of efforts to make electric vehicles more affordable and accessible to everyone. Starting at "32,249, the Nissan LEAF offers a driving range of up to 386 miles and can charge from 20% to 80% in just 30 minutes. Production is scheduled to begin at Nissan's Sunderland facility, employing its 6,000-strong workforce, from December. In light of the announcement, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Nissan helped pioneer early EV ownership through the original Leaf, so it is great to see them join our drive to make going electric cheaper and more accessible for families. "Alongside saving drivers thousands, this news is also a big boost for manufacturing in the North East " supporting…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (412+ words) Rachel Reeves" latest "100million car tax plan has been slammed by campaigners, with experts warning the move could be "extremely damaging. It is understood that the Government is considering introducing business rates for electric car public charging operators for the first time. But there are fears that plans to introduce business rates to EV charging bays from April 2026 could backfire. Experts at Charge UK have previously warned that the new scheme would add "100M of additional costs to Charge Point Operators. This could ultimately lead to higher prices for customers, with annual bills likely to rise by as much as "300 if charges are directly passed on to drivers. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Roy Williamson, chair of GRIDSERVE stressed the move could have negative consequences. Roy explained: "We are passionate about providing great charging for our customers and providing a growth…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (390+ words) A cheap electric car is the best second-hand vehicle on the road, beating almost 1,200 other vehicles to the top spot.WhatCar? has selected the Skoda Enyaq as the first pure electric model to win Britain's Best Used Car award. The electric family SUV was picked from a field of 1,183 contenders, with judges praising the model's unbeatable value and practicality. WhatCar? claims that Enyaq's win is proof that there has never been a better time to buy a used electric model, with prices now cheaper than ever. According to the experts, interested buyers can pick up an Enyaq for just "13,000. This would be around "26,000 less than you would spend on a brand new model of the car, first released back in 2020. However, motorists can now pick up Enyaq models for just "215 per month if they secure the vehicle on a personal…...

2+ week, 4+ day ago (302+ words) New pay-per-mile car tax changes will hit drivers with hundreds of pounds worth of bills in just a matter of years. Rachel Reeves'is expected to confirm the introduction of a new 3p pay-per-mile rate for electric vehicles in her Autumn Budget statement. Businesses with electric fleets could be set to face significant cost increases in a blow for firms which made the EV switch up until now. Chris stressed motorists across the UK should start planning now with long-term savings the key to success once the fee strikes. Although it is expected that electric cars will remain cheaper to run than petrol cars, this new per mile fee will eat into some of those savings. No details on how the policy will work has yet to be fully fleshed out, but it is expected that EV drivers will be asked to…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago (364+ words) Motorists across the UK are set to be hit with car tax rises of up to "40 per vehicle from this exact date in 2026. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) increases every year in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation with 2026 set to be no different. Next year, VED rates are set to increase on April 1, 2026 with petrol, diesel and electric car owners all set to face rises. However, it's the most polluting vehicles that will be most affected and face the higher VED band increases. Experts at Pete Barden explained how the current RPI inflation predictions could impact on fees hitting drivers next Spring. Pete Barden explained: "Every autumn, the September inflation data becomes a key figure for drivers - because it's used to set the following April's Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) rates. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics…...

2+ day, 19+ hour ago (483+ words) Drivers of electric vehicles will be forced to trek to MOT centres every year to have their mileage checked under controversial changes announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves , sparking fears the new pay-per-mile scheme could become a "chaotic and messy" nightmare, reports The Times. Under the government's radical overhaul, EV owners will be liable for a 3p-per-mile tax on miles driven from 2028, with plug-in hybrid drivers paying 1.5p. But in a twist that has left experts baffled, drivers of brand-new EVs will be required to visit MOT centres to have their mileage verified in the first two years of ownership, despite the car not even requiring an inspection. Drivers will be saddled with the onerous task of estimating and pre-purchasing their miles for the year at the same time they tax their car, with any unused miles claimed back as a rebate…...

1+ week, 7+ hour ago (294+ words) Classic car owners may need to pay more to get behind the wheel from this exact year as petrol and diesel ban rules come into effect. Labour is set to ban the sale of most brand-new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 as part of a crackdown on combustion engines." Posting online, Adrian Flux Insurance said: "Classic cars are not being banned, but it's likely the next few decades will see a shift that may eventually present a challenge for classic car drivers." "This includes increased availability of electric car charging points, more dedicated electric vehicle parking spaces and decreased space at fuel stations for traditional petrol and diesel pumps. Some have even wondered if the ban could mean that classic cars will be worthless in the future." "Though running and maintenance costs are likely to increase for classic cars, vehicles…...

1+ week, 11+ hour ago (399+ words) Every electric car owner in the UK is set to be hit with higher car tax fees from April 2026 as part of major Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) updates. VED fees rise depending on Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation every April, with 2026 set to be no exception. Specialists at Pete Barden have predicted VED fees are likely to rise by around 4.6% next year, with standard rate fees, first-year charges and Expensive Car Supplement fees all set to rise. The move could see electric car owners paying up to "20 more to use the road in a blow to those making the switch. Pete Barden said: "The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics confirm that the headline inflation level held steady at 3.8% in September 2025, the same as in August. "While the Government typically bases VED rises on the Retail Prices Index…...

2+ week, 12+ min ago (404+ words) A budget electric car available to buy for just over "20,000 is scooping up Car of the Year prizes with experts branding it a "game-changer. The new Renault 5 looks the business, handles well and comes in at an attractive price point - a perfect recipe to genuinely cut through the noise and become a market leader in 2025. In October, the Renault 5 was officially the UK's best-selling electric car, outselling the Tesla Model Y. Outside of sales figures alone, the EV hatchback, named after the original Renault 5 which launched in 1972, is causing a stir among industry leaders. The Renault 5 E-Tech picked up the "Best Electric Small Car' prize at the 2025 What Car? Electric Car Awards in September. This has followed further success with the model scooping the European "Car of the Year 2025" award, as well as similar prizes from Top Gear.com and Business…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (426+ words) Rachel Reeves looks set for a tax bonanza at the Autumn Budget and motoring is likely to be firmly in the sights of the Chancellor. Ahead of the November 26 statement, Ms Reeves has boldly warned that she will need to make "necessary" choices to help the economy "for years to come". If that doesn't sound like tax rises are a certainty, I don't know what will. New hikes scheduled for April 2026 are effectively a certainty, with the RAC even confirming that road tax rates are automatically adjusted by the Government in line with inflation. The standard VED rate, applied to petrol, diesel and electric cars built after 2017, increased from "190 to "195 last year. It's therefore safe for us to predict that a similar "5 or even "10 rise could be on the cards, taking bills to "200 to "205 per year. VED charges are based…...