British drivers are being warned of major driving rule changes this month which will affect fuel rates and the cost of charging electric vehicles.
This July, changes will be made to fuel prices, while tweaks will be made to the Clean Air Zone in some parts of the country.
The changes coming could mark a big difference to the way that some people drive and fill-up their vehicles.
Next week marks the deadline for the Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) to publish its market study into the price of road fuel, having released an update in May, Yorkshire Live reports.
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, said that interviews would be taking place with supermarket bosses to determine why prices were not coming down quickly enough.
She added: “Although much of the pressure on pump prices is down to global factors including Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine, we have found evidence that suggests weakening retail competition is contributing to higher prices for drivers at the pumps.”
The energy price cap is set to be reduced to £2,074 for the average household this month, with many Brits paying less for their bills over the summer.
Although this cap is still significantly higher than before last years' hikes, it will come as welcome news to those struggling during the cost of living crisis.
In particular, electric vehicle owners are set to see major benefits from this, especially if they have an off-peak electric vehicle tariff.
Charging on such a tariff with a typical EV, it would cost just £127.50 for a year’s worth of driving with Octopus Intelligent at 7.5p/kWh.
July 31 will signal the end of the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) levy, with a reformed HGV levy being introduced on August 1, 2023.
This levy applies to all HGVs that weigh over 12 tonnes, with the money being used to maintain the roads and is based on vehicle weight to determine CO2 emissions, vehicle air quality emissions and levy duration.
The HGV road user levy can see drivers pay as much as £10 per day or £749 a year for the most polluting vehicles.
In some parts of the country, like Newcastle and Gateshead, drivers will see major changes to the clean air zone.
Tyneside’s Clean Air Zone was launched in January, but new changes will be introduced next month.
From July 17, older, more polluting vans and light goods vehicles will be charged to drive inside the area, being charged a daily fee of £12.50 if they are not compliant.
Councillor Jane Byrne, cabinet member for a connected, clean city at Newcastle City Council, said: “This is the second stage of the launch of the Clean Air Zone, which is in place to help tackle air pollution and protect people’s health by reducing the number of older, more polluting vehicles using our roads.
“Many drivers and business owners are already familiar with the Clean Air Zone but this will be the first time non-compliant vans and light goods vehicles will face charges.”
Meanwhile in August, London drivers will see the ultra low emission zone expanded to include nearly the entire city, with drivers of non-compliant cars forced to pay £12.50 per day to drive their vehicles in London.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan previously said: “The majority of vehicles in London are already ULEZ compliant and will not have to pay anything.
"But I completely understand the concerns of people who may not have a compliant vehicle and are worried about how they'll make the transition."
