What the April driving law changes actually mean for UK drivers

There’s been a steady stream of headlines recently around new driving laws coming into force this month. At a glance, it can all feel a bit distant, especially when nothing about your day-to-day driving seems to have changed. Once you take a closer look though, there are a few updates that could start to make a difference over time, particularly when it comes to costs.

At Intack Self Drive, as well as offering the very best daily hire and flexi hire vehicle services, we also like to keep a close eye on what’s happening across the UK’s roads. Whether you’re driving your own vehicle or hiring one from us, staying informed helps you avoid surprises and plan ahead.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the latest changes and how they might affect you.

Car tax increases are now in effect

We know that’s a sentence no one who drives wants to read, but one of the most noticeable updates this month is the change to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), or road tax. The structure hasn’t been completely overhauled, but there’s now a stronger link between your vehicle’s emissions and what you pay.

As of 1st April, drivers buying new petrol or diesel cars with higher CO₂ output are facing significantly higher first-year charges. In some cases, that can be as much as £5,690. It’s a considerable jump and something to keep in mind if you’re thinking about upgrading your car.

At the same time, electric cars aren’t quite as cost-friendly as they once were. They no longer qualify for free road tax, and from April 2026, even newer EVs will move onto the standard £200 annual rate. It’s a subtle shift, but it does show how things are starting to balance out across the board when it comes to running costs.

Even outside of new purchases, ongoing tax costs have crept up slightly. It might not stand out straight away, but over time, these increases can become more noticeable when added to other running costs like fuel, insurance, and servicing.

Driving test booking rules have changed

For learners, or anyone helping someone through the process, there’s a shift happening in how driving test bookings work. To start, the number of times a test can be rescheduled has been reduced. Learners can now only make a total of two changes to their test booking, including date, time, or location. If you need to make any further changes, you’ll now have to cancel and rebook, which may mean losing your slot. These adjustments are part of ongoing efforts to reduce the long waiting times seen across many test centres.

Depending on your driving situation, this may not have a major impact on you. That said, if you know someone who is learning to drive and is thinking of taking their test soon, it adds another layer to consider, which is worth telling them about.

Further changes to driving tests are coming in May and June

From 12 May 2026, only the learner driver will be able to book or manage their test through the official GOV.UK website. This means that driving instructors or third-party services will no longer be able to handle or make bookings on a learner’s behalf. This is intended to help reduce misuse of the system and make access to test slots fairer for everyone.

Then, from 9th June 2026, changes to test centre locations will also be restricted. Instead of being able to swap to any available centre across the country, learners will only be able to move their booking to nearby test centres. This is designed to prevent people from booking tests in quieter areas and then switching to busier locations closer to home.

Together, these updates point towards a more controlled and structured booking system. For learners, it means planning ahead will become even more important, since there will be much less flexibility to make last-minute changes.

Benefit-in-Kind rates (BiK) on the rise

If you’ve got a company car or you’re using a salary sacrifice scheme, there’s another small change on the way. After remaining steady for a few years, BiK rates began to edge up last April and have increased again this year. As of 6th April 2026, the Benefit-in-Kind rate for electric vehicles has increased from 3% to 4%.

BiK is the tax you pay for the personal use of a company vehicle, and it’s based on the car’s emissions and list price. While electric cars are still taxed more favourably than petrol or diesel models, this increase does mean slightly higher monthly costs for drivers.

How much extra you’ll pay depends on the value of the car and your tax band, so it won’t be the same for everyone. Even so, it’s worth factoring in if you’re planning to switch vehicles, renew a lease, or join a company car scheme in the near future.

How these changes add up

Taken individually, none of these updates feel particularly drastic. The bigger picture becomes clearer when you look at how they combine.

Running a car is gradually becoming more expensive, while certain aspects of driving are becoming more regulated. It doesn’t mean you need to make immediate changes to your car or day-to-day routine, but it does make it worth keeping an eye on how things evolve and how they fit around your own driving habits.

That’s the current situation when it comes to the April driving law updates. As things continue to develop, we’ll keep sharing anything worth knowing.

And of course, if your car is ever off the road and you find yourself in need of a vehicle, whether it’s short-term or something more flexible, we’re always here to help at Intack Self Drive.

Our daily hire and flexi hire options give you access to a wide range of cars, vans, and minibuses, so you can choose what works best for you. If you’ve got any questions, or just want a bit of guidance, feel free to give us a call on 01254 57811 and we’ll be happy to help however we can.