Drivers over certain age could be 'exempt' from 2025 VED car tax changes

Thousands of UK drivers over the age of 70 could be exempt from new Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) car tax changes. New road tax rules are set to be brought in from spring.

They will impact almost all petrol and diesel owners with huge updates to standard and first-year rates. Standard VED charges will increase in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation from April 1, 2025.

Electric car owners will be paying for the first time. But the biggest changes are expected to impact drivers with new models, with fees set to double for some.

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Those buying models emitting more than 255g.km will see thousands added to bills, Express reports. Year one rates are expected to jump from £2,745 to £5,490 per annum.

But some drivers may be able to dodge the charges. According to GOV.UK, drivers who have an eligible disability will be exempt from paying vehicle tax rates.

Exemptions will apply if motorists receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). People who receive the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or the enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) also do not need to pay.

Drivers who get the higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment, a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or an Armed Forces Independence Payment are also exempt. Motorway.co.uk said: "If a vehicle is being used by a disabled person or by an organisation providing transport for disabled people, it can claim a disability exemption when filing road tax.

"If qualified, the vehicle will not be subject to road tax fees. Drivers can only use the disability exemption on one vehicle at a time. Additionally, ambulances do not count as disabled passenger vehicles for road tax purposes."

Disability exemptions apply to any age group but data previously indicated that older drivers could be particularly affected. A 2023 graph of the DVLA's medical casework revealed motorists over 70 suffered from the most medical conditions on UK roads.

The chart indicated that about 30,000 cases were being looked into by DVLA officials, with some older drivers diagnosed with at least two conditions. Motorists over the age of 60 were the next most affected age group, with those between the ages of 50 and 59 third on the list.