Ford owners are among those set to be hit with £5,690 car tax bills this spring with price rises just weeks away. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) prices will rise for most petrol, diesel and electric cars from April 1, 2026.
However, owners of brand new cars are most affected, with first-year costs set to rise by as much as £200. Cars emitting over 255g/km of CO2 pay the highest VED rates with bills currently sitting at £5,490 per year. However, costs will rise to £5,690 next year with as many as 60 cars, including from the iconic American manufacturer, set to be affected.
The Ford Mustang 5.0 V8, Ford Ranger 2.0 TD EcoBlue, Ford Ranger 3.0 EcoBlue and Ford Ranger 3.0 V6 are believed to emit over 255g/km of CO2 and will be slapped with the highest fees. Ford is not the only major manufacturer facing the highest bills, with cars from top brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz also listed.
High-performance models such as the Porsche 718 and Rolls-Royce Ghost are also expected to pay the higher charges. However, the fees only apply for the first-year of ownership, meaning motorists who bought these cars more than a year ago will not pay thousands.
From year two, these cars will switch to the standard VED fee for vehicles registered after 2017 which is set to rise to £200 per annum. Cars emitting over 255g/km of CO2 used to pay just £2.745 per year before thresholds were doubled by Labour in April 2025.
However, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) confirmed the higher £200 tax rises this year were part of a standard uprating. VED fees typically rise every Spring in line with Retail Price Index (RPI) inflation, with 2026 set to be no different.
HMRC explained: “As announced at Budget 2025, the government will introduce legislation in Finance Bill 2025-26 to uprate Vehicle Excise Duty rates for cars, vans and motorcycles in line with the Retail Price Index (RPI) for 2026 to 2027. This will take effect from 1 April 2026.”
Express.co.uk has contacted Ford for comment.
