Labour Government Forces Electric Vehicle Drivers to Pay Double Road Charges While Driving Abroad in the United Kingdom and Europe

Electric vehicle drivers are facing an unexpected sting in the tail under Labour’s proposed pay-per-mile system.

Ministers have now acknowledged that motorists could end up paying twice when they take their cars abroad — once to foreign road operators and again back home in the UK.

The policy, known as eVED, is designed to replace traditional vehicle taxes for electric and hybrid cars with an annual charge based on how far they are driven.

On paper, it’s meant to be simple and fair. In practice, it’s opening up a messy debate.

Mileage Matters — But Location Doesn’t

One of the biggest problems is that the system won’t be able to tell where those miles are driven.

Whether an EV owner is commuting in Manchester or cruising through France, every mile will still count toward the UK charge.

Labour Treasury Minister Dan Tomlinson has defended the approach, arguing that tracking where miles are driven would intrude on drivers’ privacy.

That explanation has done little to calm critics, who say the lack of distinction makes the scheme unfair from the outset.

Paying the UK While Driving in Europe

Under current plans, EV drivers will be charged around 3p per mile — no matter which country they’re in.

That’s a major issue for those travelling in the EU, where many countries already rely heavily on toll roads instead of annual road taxes.

Edmund King, president of the AA, summed up the concern bluntly.

Drivers, he said, would effectively be paying twice: once to use roads in countries like France or Spain, and again to the UK government for the very same miles.

Accusations of a Stealth Tax

The decision not to exclude foreign mileage has sparked anger across the political spectrum.

Critics argue that what’s being sold as a modern, fair replacement for fuel duty is starting to look more like a stealth tax on motorists — particularly those who have already made the switch to cleaner vehicles.

For many EV owners, the appeal was lower running costs.

This policy, opponents say, chips away at that promise.

Political Fallout Builds

The Conservatives have seized on the issue, framing it as an early warning of what’s to come.

Shadow Transport Secretary Richard Holden accused Labour of launching a broader assault on drivers, claiming the party now wants to charge motorists not just for driving at home, but for using roads abroad as well.

As the details of eVED continue to emerge, pressure is growing on ministers to rethink how mileage is counted — or risk turning a flagship policy into a lightning rod for public anger.

What’s Next?

With backlash mounting from motorists, motoring groups, and political opponents, the question now is whether Labour will adjust the scheme before it’s rolled out — or press ahead and defend the cost as the price of a new way of taxing the road.

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