The UK government is planning to close legal loopholes regarding odometer tampering before the introduction of Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) in April 2028. Under the new system, fully electric vehicles will be charged 3p per mile, while plug-in hybrids will pay 1.5p per mile to replace declining fuel duty revenue.
Analysis suggests that over 15,000 of the 1.8 million EVs currently on UK roads show signs of “clocking.” Industry experts warn that a pay-per-mile system increases the financial incentive to manipulate mileage readings. Matas Buzelis of carVertical noted:
“Tampering with an EV’s mileage is usually more complicated than with a petrol or diesel car, because the information is stored in multiple systems. But specialist tools do exist, and as more electric cars enter the market, we’re seeing an increase in attempts to manipulate their odometers.”
Currently, altering a vehicle’s mileage is not illegal in the UK until the vehicle is offered for sale. Ministers intend to criminalise the act of tampering itself to protect tax revenues. Previous attempts to change this law were stalled by concerns from the classic car sector regarding legitimate restoration work.
For a driver covering 10,000 miles annually, eVED will result in a £300 charge, likely verified during the annual MOT or registration anniversary. This tax is applied in addition to standard Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Further details on vehicle taxation can be found via the Department for Transport.
Source: The Sun
