Drivers of heavier vehicles in the UK are facing higher road charges.
Environmental road charges increase for HGVs, buses, and coaches
From April, Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) road user levy have been updated to better reflect vehicle weight and environmental impact.
The changes affect HGVs, trade licence holders, and larger buses and coaches, with fees increasing across multiple weight and emissions categories.
A Treasury spokesperson told Birmingham Live: “These changes ensure that road charges better reflect vehicle weight and environmental impact, while maintaining fairness for operators.”
Lorries over 44,000kg now pay £1,703 annually, or £851.50 for six months. Cleaner Euro 7 vehicles are charged £619 per year, while older, higher-emission models pay £804. General haulage lorries face £380, up from £365, and medium-weight HGVs between 12,000kg and 31,000kg are charged £161 for Euro VI-compliant vehicles and £209 for older models.
Vehicles between 31,001kg and 38,000kg pay £387 for cleaner models and £503 for older ones. The highest bracket, above 38,000kg, costs £619 for compliant vehicles and £804 for older units.
Two-axle lorries weighing 15,000kg–27,000kg pay £322 annually, with extra fees for heavy trailer combinations reaching £654. Smaller buses with up to 17 seats are charged £177, mid-sized buses £240, and larger coaches between £350 and £530 depending on passenger capacity.
HM Treasury said indexing VED rates to the Retail Price Index for 2025–2026 ensures that revenues are maintained in real terms, while incentivising cleaner vehicles and encouraging operators to account for environmental impact.
The revisions follow broader government efforts to promote sustainability in road transport and align taxation with environmental performance, as larger, heavier vehicles contribute disproportionately to emissions and road wear.