Older motorists have been urged to check whether they are exempt from paying road tax (Image: Getty)
Older drivers could be able to escape the in April set to cause most Brits to .
In the first in 14 years, highlighted that (VED) would be rising from April 2025 to reflect the .
However, some motorists have been urged to check whether they could avoid the costly rise by becoming exempt from paying VED altogether.
Currently, drivers are able to apply for a tax exemption if they or a passenger have limited mobility as part of the blue badge scheme, which also offers a number of other benefits such as free entry into London’s Congestion Charge zone and use of disabled parking spaces.
According to data from the (DfT) and the , there were 2.84 million blue badges in use in March 2024, with around five percent of the UK’s population eligible for the permit.
:
Drivers who are eligible for a blue badge do not need to pay for road tax on their main vehicle (Image: Getty)
In order to be able to claim for a tax exemption, drivers or their passenger must meet one of six requirements.
These include getting the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance or the enhanced rate mobility component of either the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or the Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
Alternatively younger passengers who receive the higher rate mobility component of the Child Disability Payment can apply or receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
Don’t miss… [REPORT]
Vehicles that were registered more than 40 years ago are also exempt from road tax (Image: Getty)
Motorists can only receive a tax exemption this way on one vehicle, which will have to be registered in the disabled person or nominated driver’s name.
In addition, the tax-exempt vehicle must also be used for the benefit of the disabled person’s personal needs in order to comply.
Drivers who meet the requirements can claim their exemption when they next apply for vehicle tax, with those applying for the first time required to visit a Post Office to do so.
Alternatively, drivers looking to avoid the rise in road tax could buy a historic vehicle that was registered more than 40 years ago.
In a bid to discourage drivers from scrapping classic models, older cars are exempt from a number of motoring requirements, including road tax, MOTs, and low and ultra-low emission zone (LEZ & ULEZ) charges.
From April 1, all vehicles that were first registered before January 1, 1985 will be exempt from road tax, with drivers still needing to state that their vehicle is on the road each year using the DVLA’s website.