Confirmed · starts April 2028
What will the per-mile charge cost you?
The government has confirmed a charge of 3p a mile on electric cars from April 2028, and 1.5p a mile on plug-in hybrids. What you pay depends entirely on how far you drive.
Don't know your mileage? Most people guess low. Your MOT history has the real figure going back years — look it up free at gov.uk/check-mot-history, then take the difference between two readings a year apart.
How it will work. You will estimate your mileage when you renew your road tax and pay against that estimate, monthly or annually. Your MOT provides the verified reading it is checked against. Drive further than expected and you can top up during the year; drive less and the balance normally carries over as credit rather than being refunded. Cars under three years old will not need separate mileage checks — that requirement was dropped after the consultation.
Confirmed by the government on 13 July 2026 and starting April 2028. Draft legislation is out for technical consultation. The rate rises with inflation from 2029/30, so 3p is a starting figure rather than a fixed one.