Drivers urged to complete 10-second task which could see them escape £150 charge


Drivers urged to complete 10-second task which could see them escape £150 charge

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Drivers urged to complete 10-second task which could see them escape £150 chargeNew rates came into effect at the start of April for millions of drivers, motorists and road


users.MotoringJames Rodger Content Editor07:46, 31 May 2025New rates came into effect at the start of April for millions of drivers, motorists and road users. A 10- second number plate


checker will tell drivers how much more vehicle tax they need to pay after the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) shake-up in April. New rates came into effect at the start of April for millions of


drivers, motorists and road users.


By simply entering their number plate into the online checker, drivers can quickly check their vehicle's CO2 emissions and their car tax band.


‌ The DVLA hiked VED fees from April 1 for the majority of petrol, diesel, and electric car owners, with some facing huge increases. Vehicles registered between 2001 and 2017 are subject to


VED charges on a sliding scale based on total emissions.


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Those which pump out higher emissions have to pay more in tax. Using WeBuyAnyCar’s free online number plate checker, motorists can quickly find out the engine size (cc), power (kw) and CO2


(g/km) of their model.


Article continues below Breakdown experts at the AA have issued a warning that motorists with older cars could face a "major financial shock".


Jack Cousens, an AA spokesperson, 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."


He warned for those driving older low-CO2 small family and city cars, switching to the current standard VED rate might result in an annual increase of £150 or more in their vehicle tax.


Article continues below Jack 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 (29% with VAT) on top of what they are paying in fuel duty."


Government data suggests 58% of drivers in the UK are paying tax on the older CO2 emissions-based fees which apply to older vehicles.