New UK Driving Laws 2026: Licence Rules & Speed Limiters

New UK Driving Laws 2026: What Every Driver Needs to Know

As we ring in the New Year, UK motorists aren't just looking forward to the new '26' number plate series in March—they are also facing a fresh set of rules and regulations.

While 2025 saw the introduction of the new electric vehicle mandate, 2026 is shaping up to be the year of stricter enforcement. From changes in how we renew our licences to the broader rollout of "spy in the car" speed limiters, keeping your licence clean is about to get harder.

At Easy Number Plates, we want to keep you on the road and legal. Here are the confirmed changes hitting UK roads from January 2026 that you need to know about.

New Licence Renewal Rules for Older Drivers (Jan 2026)

The most significant confirmed change for January 2026 affects drivers aged 65 and over.

The DVLA is introducing a stricter medical declaration process for licence renewals. While there is no "automatic ban" at 65, the days of simply ticking a box to say you are fit to drive are over.

What is changing? From January 2026, when renewing your licence, you may be asked to provide:

More Unmistakable Evidence: More detailed questions about medical conditions like diabetes, epilepsy, and heart conditions.

Vision Checks: A stronger emphasis on the 20-metre number plate test. If you cannot read a standard number plate from 20 metres (with glasses if needed), your licence renewal could be refused.

The Solution: Before you renew, check your own eyes! Walk 20 metres (about 5 car lengths) away from your vehicle. If you can't read your number plate clearly, book an appointment with an optician immediately. If your current plates are faded, cracked, or dirty, you could be failing the test unnecessarily—swap them for a fresh set of Replacement Number Plates to ensure you pass.

2. Speed Limiters (ISA) Are Now Standard

If you are planning to buy a brand new car with a '26' registration in March, be prepared for it to drive a little differently.

Since July 2024, it has been a legal requirement for almost all new cars sold in the UK and Europe to be fitted with Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA). By 2026, this technology will be standard on virtually every new vehicle on the forecourt.

How it works: The car uses GPS and traffic sign recognition cameras to "read" the speed limit. If you exceed it, the car will:

Flash a warning light on your dashboard.

Sound a repetitive chime.

In some cases, the engine automatically reduces engine power to slow you down.

Can you turn it off? Yes, but the system reactivates every time you restart the car. It is part of the government's push to reduce speeding fines and accidents.

3. The Crackdown on "Ghost Plates" & Modifications

In 2026, police forces will use newer ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras that can detect non-compliant plates more easily than ever before.

Road safety reports from late 2025 highlighted a significant issue with "Ghost Plates" (reflective plates designed to blind speed cameras). As a result, police are stepping up roadside checks for:

Illegal Spacing: Moving letters to form words (e.g., BO55 instead of BOSS).

Illegal Backgrounds: Using "carbon effect" or "honeycomb" patterns on the plate background (which is strictly banned).

Tinted Plates: Any plate that appears "smoked" or darkened is illegal and will incur a £100 fine.

Stay Safe with Easy Number Plates: You don't need to break the law to look good. Our 4D number plate and Hex-Shaped Plates are fully BS AU 145e compliant, meaning they pass MOTs and police checks while still giving your car a custom, premium look.

4. Looking Ahead: The "Luxury" EV Tax (April 2026)

While this doesn't take effect in January, all Electric Vehicle (EV) owners should mark April 1st, 2026, in their diaries.

This is the date when EVs officially lose their "tax-free" status. Even worse, the "Expensive Car Supplement" (an extra £410/year tax on cars costing over £40,000) will start applying to electric vehicles. However, the threshold is expected to rise to £50,000 to protect some buyers.

Why this matters now: If you are ordering a Tesla or Polestar for the March '26 release, check the list price carefully. Adding expensive options might tip you over the tax threshold!