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The UK government is reviewing its Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, asking carmakers, charging companies, dealers and consumers for their views on how the country should reach its targets for phasing out new petrol and diesel cars.

Launched today, the consultation will consider whether annual targets for manufacturers remain appropriate amid supply chain disruption, tariff uncertainty and difficult global economic conditions.

The government says that new petrol and diesel cars are still due to be phased out by 2030, with all cars and vans required to be zero emission by 2035.

The UK government is investing almost £130m in next-generation vehicle technology, with several projects aimed at making electric cars cheaper and easier to own.

The investment includes almost £65m of government funding, matched by industry, and will support projects developing zero-emission vehicle technology and manufacturing.

While the government says the programme will support more than 1,800 jobs, the funding will help businesses produce zero-emission technologies at scale while “simultaneously making EVs cheaper for consumers.”

Heading out by car during the eclipse could mean dealing with bright glare, busy roads and distracted road users. These could all make your journey more challenging.

A £3.7m Ferrari was among 90 vehicles seized by the Met as officers targeted uninsured, unlicensed and anti-social drivers in central London. Even more astonishingly, the ultra-rare Ferrari had only been in the UK for a day.

There were 156,571 new cars registered in July, marking the eighth consecutive month of growth as the market continues its recovery towards pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The data also shows electric car registrations jumped by 44.5%, giving battery electric vehicles (EVs) a record 27.5% share of the market. Plug-in hybrid registrations also performed strongly, rising by 33.6%, while conventional hybrid sales increased by 11.6%.

Deaths caused by drink-driving fell by 16% in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT). Despite this progress, road safety groups say the government must act faster to stop repeat offenders, warning that around four people are still killed or seriously injured by drink-drivers every day.

If you regularly drive through London’s Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels, be aware that the charges for both crossings are increasing from 21 September. This is part of Transport for London’s (TfL) efforts to help manage traffic flow across the two river crossings.

If you’ve signed up to Auto Pay, off-peak charges for cars, small vans and motorcycles will rise from £1.50 to £1.55. This off-peak rate applies between 6am and 10pm on weekdays outside peak periods, as well as all day on weekends.

Peak-time charges will also increase. Drivers of cars and small vans travelling northbound between 6am and 10am, or southbound between 4pm and 7pm on weekdays, will pay £4.20, up from £4.00. Motorcycle riders will see the peak charge rise from £2.50 to £2.60.

Three in four UK councils still have no accessible on-street electric car chargers for disabled motorists, despite the number of councils providing them doubling over the past year, according to new research by Vauxhall.

The study found that 75% of councils do not provide a single on-street charge point that has either been specifically adapted for disabled drivers or meets the British Standards Institution’s PAS 1899:2022 accessibility standard.

Denza has confirmed the pricing of its first SUV coming to the UK, while the electric car grant approves another model for its full discount. Consumer writer Siobhan Doyle takes you through the top car news stories for 28 July 2026.

Ford has announced a new joint venture with Chinese car giant Geely to build cars at its plant in Valencia, Spain, and the two brands are also working together on a new family SUV.

One of the biggest barriers for Chinese brands in Europe is import taxes. Electric cars imported to Europe from China are slapped with a 35% tariff, on top of the standard 10% tariff.

To get around this, Chinese brands are starting to set up shop in the UK and Europe. Chery Group is in talks with Jaguar Land Rover to build cars in Britain, and now Ford has partnered up with Geely to build cars in Valencia, Spain.

Prime minister Andy Burnham has unveiled his first major policy since taking office, announcing plans to scrap VAT on household electricity bills from October in a move that could lower energy costs for millions of homes.

That means if you regularly charge your car at home, every charge should become slightly cheaper. Based on today’s capped rate, a full charge for a 100kWh battery would fall from £26.11 to around £24.87, saving approximately £1.24 per full charge. Charging a 100kWh EV from empty to full once a week could save around £65 annually.

What else would you like to see our new PM do that’s related to the car industry?

Imagine a scenario where now Prime Minister Andy Burnham makes the weekly trip from Manchester to Westminster for Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs). With rail fares continuing to rise, we compared the cost of travelling by train with owning and running an electric car over the next three years – up to the expected 2029 election – to find out which option is cheaper.

Burnham is a strong advocate for public transport, but would his preferred way of travelling actually be the cheaper option?

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced a series of measures designed to crackdown on the way private parking companies treat drivers, following growing concerns over unfair parking charges and inconsistent appeals processes.

Around 14.4 million private parking tickets were issued across the UK during 2024 and 2025 at locations such as supermarkets, retail parks, restaurants and gyms, according to the CMA. That’s more than double the number issued six years ago.

The watchdog adds many drivers have reported receiving parking charges they believe were unfair, with complaints including confusing signs, faulty payment machines and issues using parking apps.

Do you support these measures?

The UK government’s electric car grant is designed to encourage drivers to make the switch from petrol and diesel by slashing the upfront cost of an EV. Since its launch in July 2025, government statistics show that it has helped over 100,000 drivers save up to £3,750 off an EV.

But while the data shows that it has benefited many people across the UK, has the scheme truly swayed people to go electric? We found out for its one year anniversary.

The government has confirmed it’s moving ahead with a new pay-per-mile tax for electric cars from April 2028.

The new system will introduce a mileage-based charge alongside existing road tax to help replace fuel duty revenue lost as more drivers switch from petrol and diesel.

Following a public consultation with over 5,000 responses, ministers say they’ve made changes to simplify the scheme for drivers and businesses.

England could move a step closer to making 20mph the default speed limit on residential roads as the Transport Select Committee considers whether lower speed limits could help save lives.

The cross-party group of MPs will hear evidence from road safety experts next week as part of its inquiry into the government’s Road Safety Strategy, including whether England should follow Wales by making 20mph the default speed limit on restricted roads.

Do you think residential roads should be lowered to 20mph?

Research by online banking company Monzo found that 17 to 21-year-olds spend an average of £4,867 on their first car. With that in mind, Carwow is a great place to find used car deals within this budget – or for even less.

To help narrow your search, here are five used cars you can buy for under £5,000 and fall under a low insurance group, all of which are ideal for first-time drivers.

Figures obtained by road safety charity IAM RoadSmart through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show drivers aged 17 to 24 received 18% of all drug-driving endorsements in 2025, despite representing just 6% of all licence holders.

The data has prompted warning Britain is facing a “drug-driving epidemic”, with campaigners calling for tougher roadside powers for police and better education about the dangers of driving after taking drugs.

New RAC analysis, based on Freedom of Information requests to UK police forces, found hundreds of thousands of drivers were caught speeding last year – some at truly shocking speeds on roads shared by families, pedestrians and cyclists.

One driver was caught doing 114mph in a 30mph zone near a primary school, while another hit 89mph in a 20mph residential area. 

It’s a reminder that extreme speeding isn't just happening on motorways; it's happening where people live, walk and go to school.

Do you think the police need to do more to stop excessive speeders?

In June, three out of every 10 new cars sold in the UK were fully electric – a new record. The overall car market also had its strongest June since 2019, with more than 213,000 new cars registered, and Tesla’s models were the two best-selling cars of the month.

With electric cars, hybrids, and plug-in hybrids now making up more than half of all new car sales, it's clear that more drivers are making the switch.

Would you consider an EV for your next car, or are you still sticking with petrol or diesel?