Experts have told drivers of certain models about a trick which will allow them to avoid a looming £195 tax charge.
From April, owners of electric vehicles (EVs) will have to pay vehicle tax for the first time, having previously been exempt from the charge.
It means tax bills will be coming through the letterboxes of some drivers for the first time.
READ MORE: Vehicle tax on these cars to double from April as drivers told to prepare
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But EV owners are being urged to act now to put off paying the charge.
They can do this by renewing their tax early on the Government website before April.
As the rate is currently free, it means people who do this before April won’t have to pay anything and can put off the tax bill for a year.
Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, explained: “Electric car drivers have long enjoyed free road tax, but that’s set to change from April 1, 2025 when electric cars registered between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2025 will pay the same standard £195 road tax rate as petrol, diesel and hybrid cars.
“However, savvy EV drivers can get another year of free road tax if they renew by 31 March 2025.
“With as many as 1.4 million electric cars on UK roads, that’s a potential saving of £273 million from the new EV road tax cost.
“All they need to do is renew their road tax on the Government’s website before March 31, 2025 by putting in their car’s number plate and the 12-digit reference number on their V5C (log book).
“The form will ask if they’re sure because, normally, renewing early changes the renewal date and means paying twice for road tax until the original renewal date.
“But since EV road tax is currently free, this doesn’t matter.
“Those that buy new EVs won’t be so lucky, since electric cars registered after April 1, 2025 will be subject to the standard road tax rate, and the expensive car supplement if they cost £40,000, from their second year on the road.
“The first-year tax rate for new EVs is only £10 at least – although this used to be free, too.”
