June 2026 MOT change, Rachel Reeves 10p per mile and licence rule announced

Motorists are being warned of a number of changes to rules coming into force this month - including involving MOTs and those trying to get a driving licence. Drivers in the UK are facing big challenges currently - not least soaring fuel prices. Latest figures show the average petrol price was up 16.6% between March and April to 156.8p per litre – its highest since November 2022. While the average diesel price was up 34.1% or 31.3p per litre, to 190p per litre – the highest level since July 2022. But there are moves to lessen the burden for drivers. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a 55p per mile change for business mileage rates for the first 10,000 miless. Also the UK government has officially scrapped the planned 5p per litre fuel duty increase. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed the existing temporary 5p fuel duty cut (which was introduced in 2022) will be maintained for the rest of the year. The government has announced MOT Changes for Certain Electric Vans (from 1 June 2026)Electric vans weighing 3.5 to 4.25 tonnes will move from heavier HGV-style testing to standard Class 7 MOT rules. This means their first MOT will now be required after 3 years instead of after just 1 year previously, due to the battery weight pushing them over the 3.5-tonne threshold. It aligns them with diesel/petrol vans, reduces bureaucracy/costs for operators, and removes some tachograph requirements. This change aims to make switching to zero-emission vans easier for businesses. In the background for MOTs the Department for Transport has just finished a consultation on significantly tougher penalties for a range of offences — including driving without a valid MOT as part of its Road Safety Strategy. For failing to have a valid MOT, the government consulted on increased penalties including issuing points and seizing the vehicle immediately. Driving Test Booking Rules for Learners (from 9 June 2026). These build on earlier 2026 changes (e.g., only 2 changes allowed per booking since March, and only the learner themselves able to book/manage tests since May). From 9 June 2026, if you book a new car driving test, you can only move/reschedule it to the 3 nearest test centres (to the one where it’s currently booked) or back to the original centre on that booking. This applies to existing bookings based on where the test is booked on 9 June (not the very first centre). The goal is to stop abuse of the booking system (e.g., by bots or third parties reselling slots). These rules do not apply to other vehicle tests. The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, late last month announced an increase to the Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) rate from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles. The change, confirmed in the House of Commons on 21 May 2026, will be backdated to April 2026 and represents the first increase to the rate in more than a decade and drivers will really start to get to grips with it in June. Under the new rules: The main mileage rate increases from 45p to 55p per mile for the first 10,000 business miles The 25p per mile rate for mileage above 10,000 miles remains unchanged The increase applies where employees use their own vehicles for business travel (excluding ordinary commuting), and will also be relevant for self-employed individuals using simplified expense rates. The previous 45p rate had remained unchanged since 2011, despite significant increases in fuel, insurance and overall motoring costs. Advisory fuel rates (for company cars) are usually updated quarterly, including around early June. Enforcement via ANPR/camera systems continues to tighten (e.g., checking tax, insurance, MOT), but this is an ongoing trend rather than a brand-new June rule. For the latest official details, check GOV.UK (DVSA for tests/MOTs, DVLA for licences). Rules can vary slightly in Northern Ireland. If you’re a fleet operator with heavier electric vans or a learner driver, these June changes are the ones to watch. Not coming in June but the government has recently ended consultation on making them compulsory for drivers over 70 when they renew their licences every three years as part of its Road Safety Strategy document. The entitlement to drive expires at 70, requiring a licence renewal and a self-declaration of fitness to drive When you renew your licence at age 70 (and every 3 years thereafter), you currently just legally self-declare that you meet the required eyesight standards The government is consulting on plans to replace the self-declaration system with a compulsory professional eye test. If implemented, over-70s would need to provide proof of a recent eye examination from a qualified professional to renew their driving licence.