A number of drivers may be impacted by issues relating to incorrect information on motoring documents, just weeks after massive car tax changes were introduced.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) said it is aware of issues relating to the V5C vehicle log book.
The issues have reportedly been present since April 1, 2025, when electric cars were required to begin paying Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
Former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced in the 2022 Autumn Statement that EVs would start paying tax from 2025, in a move designed to make the VED system fairer for all motorists.
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The DVLA is reportedly aware of issues with the V5C log book
DVLA
Electric vehicle owners were also required to start paying the Expensive Car Supplement from April 1, 2025, if their vehicle has a list price of more than £40,000.
The DVLA said it was aware of issues relating to the Vehicle Enquiry Service (VES), View Vehicle Record (VVR) and special notes on the V5C log book.
According to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), V5Cs are displaying the incorrect Additional Rate of Tax (ART) information for some electric vehicles.
The Additional Rate of Tax impacts vehicles in the M1 category, which have a list price of more than £40,000.
A number of major car tax changes were introduced in April 2025
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This could impact vehicles which are now liable to pay the Expensive Car Supplement tax, with many electric cars likely falling into this category.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has previously acknowledged the “disproportionate impact” of the ECS on drivers wanting to invest in electric vehicles.
However, Autumn Statement documents from last year stated that the Government could not consider changing the terms of the ECS until “the next fiscal event”.
Experts have consistently called for the threshold of the ECS to be changed to ensure drivers are not put off from investing in zero emission vehicles.
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Suggestions have been put forward to hike the threshold to £50,000 or even £52,000 as the rate has not changed since the ECS was introduced in April 2017.
The original intention of the Expensive Car Supplement was to charge owners of luxury vehicles more for the privilege of driving such vehicles.
At present, drivers with cars that meet the threshold must pay £425 annually for five years after the first year of registration of the vehicle.
The BVRLA also reported that the DVLA was aware of information being incorrectly displayed for EVs registered in the disabled tax class.
Electric cars are now required to pay Vehicle Excise Duty, and the Expensive Car Supplement if they cost more than £40,000
PA
GB News has contacted the DVLA for an update on the V5C log book issue.
In a statement to the BVRLA, the DVLA said it wants to “assure those affected that the tax rates charged are correct”, while clarifying that motorists will not be charged the Additional Rate of Tax if it isn’t applicable to their vehicle.
Electric vehicles registered after April 1, 2025, are required to pay the lowest first year rate of vehicle tax, which is currently set at £10. They will then need to pay the standard rate of £195.
The standard rate is already paid EVs registered between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2025, while any zero emission vehicles rgistered before April 2017 will pay just £20.