Driving laws and rules you need to know for 2026

We’ve rounded up the biggest changes to UK driving laws and rules for 2026, plus a few important proposals to keep an eye on.

The fuel duty freeze ends in September 2026

After more than a decade without increases, the government has confirmed that the fuel duty freeze will end in September 2026. Fuel duty, which is the tax paid per litre on petrol and diesel, is set to rise in line with inflation.

For drivers of petrol and diesel cars, they may notice the cost of running petrol and diesel cars is set to creep up once the freeze ends.

Looking further ahead, the government has also confirmed plans for a new mileage-based charge for electric vehicles from 2028. This is intended to replace fuel duty revenue as more drivers switch away from petrol and diesel.

Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax increase from April 2026

Benefit in Kind (BiK) refers to the tax you pay when you buy a car through your company’s salary sacrifice scheme. BiK rates, like vehicle excise duty, are dependent upon your car’s CO2 emissions. From 6 April 2026, the BiK rate for electric company cars will rise from 3% to 4%. 

While electric cars still benefit from much lower BiK rates than petrol or diesel vehicles, this increase means company car drivers will pay slightly more. For cars with higher CO₂ emissions, BiK percentages remain higher and continue to increase with emissions levels.

Higher luxury car threshold for EVs from April 2026

Cars priced over £40,000 currently have to pay the expensive car supplement, which adds an extra charge to car tax for five years.

From 1 April 2026, the threshold for zero-emission electric cars will rise to £50,000. The aim of this change is for fewer EV owners to have to pay the charge, reducing ownership costs for many mid- to high-range electric models.

Driving test booking rules change

From spring 2026, only learners themselves will be allowed to book their practical driving test. Instructors won’t be able to do it for them anymore. You’ll also only be able to change your test date or location twice, and it has to be a nearby test centre. 

This is designed to cut down on last-minute cancellations and stop automated bots snapping up all the slots.

Theory tests will include CPR & first‑aid questions

From early 2026, the UK driving theory test will include expanded first-aid questions on CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs). 

Around 2.4 million people take the theory test each year, meaning new drivers will gain practical, life-saving knowledge they could need in a real emergency.

The change reflects a serious public health need. Each year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, yet fewer than 1 in 10 survive. When CPR is started and a defibrillator is used within 3 to 5 minutes, survival rates can rise dramatically - in some cases to as high as 70%.

Proposed changes to watch

Here are some changes that are reported as likely or under consultation but not yet confirmed as law for 2026:

Mandatory eye tests for drivers over 70 at licence renewal

Reports suggest the government is considering updating the licence renewal process for drivers aged 70 and over, including introducing compulsory eyesight tests every 3 years when renewing a licence. However, no changes have been officially announced, and the current self‑declaration system remains in place.

Lower drink‑drive limits in England & Wales

The government is reviewing whether to lower the drink‑drive limit in England and Wales to match Scotland’s stricter threshold of 50 mg per 100 ml of blood (down from the current 80 mg). No law has been passed yet, but the move is aimed at improving road safety and bringing the limit in line with most of Europe.

Stricter seatbelt penalty rules

At the moment, if you're caught not wearing a seatbelt, you'll usually face a £100 fine but no points on your licence. That could soon change. As part of the government’s road safety plans, there's a proposal to introduce penalty points for seatbelt offences, alongside the existing fines.