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UK Weighs 3p‑Per‑Mile Charge on Electric Cars as Budget Nears, With Plans Still Under Review

The reported levy aims to replace shrinking fuel duty by moving EVs toward per‑mile tax parity with petrol and diesel.

Overview

  • Reports suggest Chancellor Rachel Reeves could announce a 3p‑per‑mile charge for electric vehicles in the 26 November Budget, though the measure has not been confirmed.
  • The Treasury, via Exchequer Secretary Dan Tomlinson, says road‑pricing proposals remain under review with any decisions to be set out at fiscal events.
  • Briefed details indicate drivers would estimate annual mileage, pay upfront, top up if they exceed it, and roll over unused credit, with consultation preceding a planned 2028 start.
  • At 3p per mile, a typical 8,000‑mile EV driver would pay about £240–£250 a year, with example trip costs reported as £12 LondonEdinburgh, £5 Cambridge–Bristol, and £2 Liverpool–Leeds.
  • Analyses show petrol fuel alone costs roughly 13p–18p per mile versus about 5p–11p for EVs, while AA and the RAC Foundation urge caution to avoid weakening EV adoption.