Heavy electric vehicles to start paying road user charges from 1 July 2027

Owners of heavy electric vehicles will start paying road user charges (RUC) from 1 July 2027.

This exemption was set to expire after 31 December 2025 but has been extended to enable a smoother transition into the RUC system.

Heavy electric vehicles are classed as those weighing over 3.5 tonnes, such as trucks and buses. They have been exempt from paying RUC since 2017.

The Government considers all vehicles – whether they're electric or fuel-based – should contribute to the cost of the road network.