Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) tax rises have hit national headlines as popular car models have been described as ‘on the scrap watch-list’ due to the fees for owning them now exceeding the cars’ value!
We’ve taken a look at the real increases you may face and the car models most affected…
VED changes on April 1st include several increases for older vehicles based on their registration date and emissions.
Vehicles registered between March 2001 and March 2017 have seen their emission-based banding increased from £5 up to a huge £40.
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| CO2 Band | Current VED Rate (2025/26) | New VED Rate (from April 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| BAND D 121–130g/km | £165 | £170 |
| BAND G 151–165g/km | £265 | £275 |
| BAND L 226–255g/km | £735 | £760 |
| BAND M Over 255g/km | £750 | £790 |
If you wish to check your car’s emissions we have an article to guide you through the government’s online tools.
Vehicles Registered Before March 2001 are also subject to these inflationary increases, but their tax rate is based on engine size (cc) rather than CO2 emissions.
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| Engine size | Current VED Rate (2025/26) | New VED Rate (from April 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1549cc or less | £220 | £230 |
| Over 1549cc | £360 | £375 |
‘Historic cars’ exemption – Unless it’s used for commercial purposes, if your vehicle was manufactured before 1986, it will now be covered by Historic Vehicle Exemption and will be tax-exempt! However, you still have to apply for the exemption even if no payment is due. You can apply for your vehicle’s ‘historic’ status and tax exemption online.
A well as the national VED tax, and the standard ULEZ charge (£12.50 daily to drive within Greater London), older vehicles in London face additional costs:
Congestion Charges have increased from £15 to £18 per day (starting 2nd Jan 2026)
Car brands with popular models in high-tax Bands – Bands L and M, as seen in the first table – include huge names such as Ford, VW and Vauxhall.
The most scrapped car is currently a 17 year old Ford Focus (due to the fact it was the most popular car model 17 years ago!) but following these car tax hikes, we may see the most scrapped cars starting to change…
The following popular car models with larger engines, registered between March 2001 and March 2017, are now said to be in a ‘tax trap’ where the annual cost of VED may exceed their market value:
Ford: Mondeo 3L / Galaxy 2.3L, 2.8L petrol / Focus RS, ST / Kuga 2.5L petrol
Volkswagen: Golf R32 / Passat R32 / Touareg V6,V8,V10,W12 / Phaeton V6,V8,W12
Vauxhall: Insignia VXR 2.8L Turbo / Zafira VXR 2L Turbo / Astra VXR 2L Turbo / Vectra VXR 2.8L Turbo
Land Rover: Range Rover (full size) / Range Rover Sport / Discovery 3 and 4 / Defender
Audi: RS4 / RS6 / R8 / S8 / large Q7 and Q5s / A8 and A9s 4.2L and above
BMW: M / M3 / M5 / X5 / X6 / 3 Series – 330i and higher / most 5 Series / most 6 Series / most 7 Series
Jaguar: X-Type (2.0L Auto and larger), S-Type 4.2 V8
Others: Saab 900/ Subaru Forester 2.5 XT / Chrysler PT Cruiser / Mercedes Benz AMG models / Porsche Cayenne
As national media is now speculating, it’s likely that many car owners with the older models listed above, are weighing up whether these additional costs are worth it when the car they are paying for isn’t worth the tax being paid out. Undoubtedly, even if owners decide to fork out for the tax, if their car fails its MOT during 2026 and the bill to fix it costs more than its worth, it’s likely to be a cost too much.
If you own one of the more popular models of these most affected cars, we thought it would be useful to see the current average scrap prices. Obviously there are many factors affecting these values, including your location, the condition of your vehicle, as well as the huge variables affecting the world metal markets. So, it’s always a good idea to get a quote for your specific car – there is an easy, instant quote option at the bottom of the page.
Mondeo 3L / Galaxy 2.3L, 2.8L petrol / Focus RS, ST / Kuga 2.5L petrol
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| Ford Model | Average Scrap Price |
|---|---|
| Mondeo | £244 |
| Focus | £321 |
| Galaxy | £267 |
| Kuga | £328 |
Golf R32 / Passat R32 / Touareg V6,V8,V10,W12 / Phaeton V6,V8,W12
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| Volkswagen Model | Average Scrap Price |
|---|---|
| Golf | £253 |
| Passat | £315 |
| Touareg | £496 |
| Phaeton | £322 |
Insignia VXR 2.8L Turbo / Zafira VXR 2L Turbo / Astra VXR 2L Turbo / Vectra VXR 2.8L Turbo
Tip: you can move this table side to side on mobile devices if required.
| Vauxhall Model | Average Scrap Price |
|---|---|
| Insignia | £283 |
| Zafira | £248 |
| Astra | £195 |
| Vectra | £212 |
It will be interesting to see if the most scrapped car models change significantly over the next year as these VED increases impact car owners.
If you do decide to scrap your old car, be sure to recycle it with an Authorised Treatment Facility and get a Certificate of Destruction.
Scrap car values can vary due to many factors – see what your old car is worth with an instant quote…
