2026 is set to bring changes to many rules, regulations and practices affecting British drivers. Some of the possible changes have been proposed in a number of recent government consultation documents.
A list of relevant open consultation documents may be seen here.
Many of the proposals contained in these documents have wide support from motoring groups, politicians and pressure groups; therefore, it seems likely that most will be implemented.
Other changes listed below are already either in place, or decided and awaiting implementation.
Digital Driving Licences
The UK government intends that the UK should adopt digital driving licences, with a system fully implemented by 2027.
In the immediate future, our physical photocard licences will remain valid, but our driving licence details and driving record are already held and managed online. It is quite likely that the physical licence will be discontinued entirely at some point.
You can already check or share your driving licence details at https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence.
At the time of writing, things such as declaring medical conditions that may affect driving and voluntarily surrendering one's licence for medical reasons are not yet integrated into the online licence management system, but it seems likely that they soon may be.
The digital licence is intended to be part of a broader digital development, the GOV.UK Wallet, which will provide a central digital hub for all one's government-issued documents. However, while the GOV.UK Wallet app was supposed to be available from 2025, it is still not ready in April 2026.
Even though the digital services are not yet fully functional, drivers should ensure that they keep their records up to date with the DVLA, and notify the agency of any changes to their address and any medical conditions for which declaration is mandatory. Failing to update these details can lead to fines and even revocation of one's licence.
Changes to driving test bookings
Learner drivers and their instructors will have to navigate stricter rules around booking driving tests in 2026. The changes are designed to prevent abuse of a badly overloaded test system. The changes should free up test slots that were previously lost to short-notice cancellations or inappropriately booked with automated tools and bots by unscrupulous individuals planning to sell test slots to desperate students. Of course, they will also mean that genuine students and instructors will need to plan ahead and manage their bookings carefully.
Main points of the changes will be:
- At least 10 working days' notice required to cancel or change a test
- Driving instructors will no longer be able to book tests on behalf of their students
- Limits on how often a test can be rescheduled
Visit the government website for full details.
Increased use of ANPR for MOT, tax and insurance checks
The use of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) by the police and other agencies is set to increase this year. As well as detecting toll and emission charge evaders, forecourt petrol thieves and other criminals, ANPR will increasingly be used to identify vehicles using the public highway without valid MOT, tax and/or insurance.
Driving without MOT, tax or insurance may lead to:
- fixed penalty fines
- court proceedings
- seizure of vehicles concerned
- invalidation of motor insurance
You can check your MOT and road tax on the following government website pages:
Changes to fuel duty
Fuel duty is expected to rise in September 2026, marking the end of the 5p-per-litre reduction that has been in force. The rise will make a significant difference to high-mileage drivers.
The 5p cut will be discontinued in stages and will apply to both petrol and diesel fuel. Full, inflation-linked rises are planned from April 2027.
The headline rate on standard petrol and diesel is 52.95 pence per litre; this has been frozen since 2011-12. The 5p cut was introduced in 2022-23 and subsequently extended through 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26.
Changes to road tax
What most of us refer to as "road tax" is really called Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). It is partly intended to encourage greener driving, although only the first year of road tax is linked to emissions; subsequent years are taxed at a flat rate that doesn't take CO₂ emissions into account.
For the 2025/26 tax year, VED rates increased to £195. This was based on rises in the Retail Price Index (RPI). Electric vehicles are now also taxed at this increased rate.
Full details of car tax bands may be seen on the government website.
Changes to company car tax
Company car users will see benefit-in-kind changes, with tax on electric company cars increasing from 3% to 4%. High-emission vehicles may, potentially, be taxed at rates of up to 37%.
Learn more about company car tax.
Changes to the Motability scheme
From July 2026, changes will apply to the Motability scheme that facilitates vehicle leasing for people driving with disabilities.
VAT will be payable on Motability Advance Payments, and Insurance Premium Tax will be added to some leases.
Some higher-value vehicles are being removed from the scheme, and VAT and insurance costs on Advance Payment vehicles will rise from 1st July, although Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV) will remain exempt.
For more details visit the government website and Motability.
Changes to London Congestion Charges
Not everyone drives in the capital but, for those who do, the London Congestion Charge is a significant consideration.
It's basically a daily fee payable for most vehicles driving in central London during the charge's operating hours. The congestion charge began in February 2003 with the aim of reducing traffic congestion on London's busiest roads, reducing air pollution from traffic and encouraging citizens and commuters to use public transport, to cycle or to walk.
The congestion charge operating hours are:
- Monday to Friday: 7:00am – 6:00pm
- Saturday, Sunday, and Bank Holidays: 12:00pm – 6:00pm
- No charge: Between Christmas Day (25 December) and New Year's Day (1 January) inclusive
The congestion zone covers central London. The zone is marked by signs displaying a large 'C' in a red circle. Transport for London (TfL) uses ANPR cameras to enforce the charge.
2026 rates
Standard Daily Charge (from 2 January 2026): £18 (a 20% increase)
The following discounts apply to EVs (only if registered for Auto Pay) from January 2026 – March 2030:
- Electric cars: 25% discount = £13.50 per day
- Electric vans, HGVs, and quadricycles: 50% discount = £9 per day
This means vehicles will be charged as follows:
| Vehicle Type | Without Auto Pay | With Auto Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Electric car | £18.00 | £13.50 |
| Electric van/HGV | £18.00 | £9.00 |
| Petrol/Diesel car | £18.00 | £18.00 |
Payments can be made in advance, on the day of travel, or up to midnight on the third day following travel. Late payments incur a charge of £21.
Full details available at Transport for London.
Road safety rules
The government's Road Safety Strategy was updated in January 2026. Open consultation documents indicate the very probable introduction of several measures intended to improve safety for drivers and pedestrians. These include:
Introducing licence penalty points for failure to wear seat belts. The proposal says:
"[...] drivers and passengers failing to wear a seat belt, and drivers who fail to ensure children travelling in the vehicle are suitably restrained, should receive 3 penalty points on their driving licence."
This would be in addition to the existing fines already applicable to seat belt offences.
A reduction in the permitted level of blood alcohol for drivers and the introduction of a police power to seize the vehicle of anyone arrested for drink/drug driving.
The full consultation document may be seen on the government website.
Additionally, new checks are set to affect older drivers. The government is consulting on introducing mandatory eyesight tests for drivers over 70 years of age.
Drivers aged 70 and over already have to renew their licences every three years; however, drivers currently self-declare that their vision is good enough to allow them to drive. The proposed eye tests would replace this self-declaration system. If a driver's eyesight were shown to be seriously impaired, their licence would not be renewed.
The consultation document on eye tests for older drivers may be seen on the government website.
