Not only is car tax set to rise alongside inflation next month, but a whole set of new rules, laws and further increases will also come into play for motorists on British roads.
However, a plethora of changes to the Highway Code and its rules and regulations take effect today (March 1) - so it would be wise to brush up on your knowledge of the roads, to avoid potential hefty fines and penalties from traffic enforcement.
From a tougher mobile phone ban to new number plates from today onward, see all the driving changes you need to know in The Mirror's comprehensive list below.
Go here for the very latest breaking news updates from across the North East
1. Mobile phones loophole to be banned
Tougher new laws will come into force in a further crackdown on using a mobile phone behind the wheel from March 25 .
It is already illegal to text or make a phone call, other than in an emergency, while driving.
From next month, laws will go further to ban drivers from using their phones to take photos or videos, scroll through playlists or play games.
This will mean anyone caught using their hand-held device while driving will face a £200 fixed penalty notice and six points on their licence.
Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Too many deaths and injuries occur while mobile phones are being held.
"By making it easier to prosecute people illegally using their phone at the wheel, we are ensuring the law is brought into the 21st century while further protecting all road users."
Following the public consultation, the Government will revise The Highway Code to explain the new measures. It is understood that the loophole will be closed in mid-January.
There will, however, be an exemption to the new law for drivers making a contactless payment using their mobile phone while stationary to ensure the law keeps pace with technology.
2. Number plates
New number plates for UK vehicles will be released on March 1, affecting thousands of cars up and down the country.
Car registration plates change twice a year, on March 1 and September 1, for newly manufactured vehicles. These changes are brought in to reflect the new year.
From March 1, new cars registered until August 31 will have the “22” tag in their number plate.
Then from September 1, all new cars will be registered with “72”.
This will be the case until March 2023, when new “23” number plates will come into force, followed by “73” in September 2023, and so on.
Until now, new cars in the UK are registered with the “71” tag on their number plate to represent the latest registration change in September 2021.
3. Increasing Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)
Vehicle Excise Duty (also known as car tax or road tax) is set to rise in line with inflation from April 2022.
The amount of tax you’ll pay typically depends on how old your car is and how environmentally friendly it is.
Vehicles producing over 255g of CO2 emissions per km travelled will see their first-year rate rise from £2,245 to £2,365.
Vehicles producing between 226g and 255g per km travelled will see increases from £1,910 to £2,015, and vehicles producing between 76g and 90g of CO2 emissions per km will pay £120 in their first year.
Zero emission vehicles, including electric cars, will continue to pay £0 tax for the first year on the road.
4. Red diesel and rebated biofuels will become illegal for most vehicles
This measure will mostly affect businesses rather than individuals, and it restricts the lawful use of red diesel and rebated biofuels from April 1, 2022.
Red diesel is diesel used mainly off-road, such as for bulldozers and cranes, or to power drills for oil extraction.
The change is intended to promote the use of more sustainable fuels, as part of the UK's 2050 climate targets.
5. New builds in England to have compulsory built-in EV chargers
All new properties built in England this year, including housing and commercial buildings, will have to have an EV charging point installed.
Through the availability of more EV chargers, the government hopes to boost the uptake of electric vehicles ahead of the planned ban on the sale of new diesel and petrol cars in 2030.
6. Speed limiters in new cars
New cars will be fitted with speed limiters from July 6, 2022 to improve road safety.
The Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) black boxes will use GPS to work out what the speed limit is and will then ensure the car doesn't break it.
A new regulation will be imposed by the European Commission in the General Safety Regulation having been approved by the European Parliament in 2019.
ISAs will be mandatory for all new models given 'type approval' from 6 July. This means any new car brought to market from that date, rather than new cars already in production.
7. Local clean air zone charges
London’s Clean Air Zone, also known as the Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) currently charges drivers of the most polluting vehicles £12.50 a day on top of any congestion charge fees.
On October 25, 2021, the area expanded up to the North and South Circular ring roads, affecting more drivers with some of the most polluting vehicles.
And this year, Greater Manchester and Bradford will introduce their own Clean Air Zones.
The Manchester Clean Air Zone will start on May 30, 2022, while a date is yet to be announced for the Bradford Clean Air Zone.
Birmingham's Clean Air Zone comes into force in June, stinging drivers of older vehicles £8 a day to enter the city centre.
It's worth using the ULEZ checker online to see if the charges apply to your vehicle.
The First Zero Emission Zone will also be piloted in Oxford – charging all but electric vehicles who enter eight city centre streets.
Oxford will pilot the scheme in February 2022 – charging all drivers that enter the city centre £2 to £10 from 7am until 7pm daily.
A Clean Air Zone for Greater Manchester, Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan will follow on May 30, 2022, however it will only apply to drivers of buses, coaches, taxis, HGVs, PHVs and LGVs.
Newcastle city centre, Sheffield and Bristol will implement a similar policy in July 2022, also affecting Gateshead and North Tyneside - but it will not charge car drivers.
8. Benefit in Kind rates
Benefit in Kind rates will also rise by 1% from April 2022.
Electric cars, and other vehicles producing under 50g of CO2 per km, will now pay 2% charges instead of 1%.
All other vehicles will pay 1% more, regardless of their CO2 levels.
The exceptions to this are vehicles that produce over 156g per km – on these vehicles, rates will remain at 37%.
