HGV Road User Levy in Great Britain: Rates & Guide
The HGV Road User Levy is a time-based charge on heavy goods vehicles using Great Britain's main road network. It was suspended in August 2020, then reintroduced on 1 August 2023 in a reformed, emissions-based form. For dispatchers planning UK runs, two points matter most: since the 2023 reform the levy is collected from non-UK (foreign-registered) HGVs only — UK-registered HGVs now pay it together with their Vehicle Excise Duty — and the charge is time-based, not distance-based, so a daily levy covers any main-road driving in that 24-hour period regardless of kilometres.
This guide covers the current levy rates, who pays, how rates are uprated, the separate river-crossing tolls, CO2 surcharges, Low Emission Zones, and where UK road pricing may go next.
Last updated: June 2026.
Table of Contents:
- Current HGV Road User Levy rates
- Who pays the levy — and who is exempt
- Annual rate uprating
- River-crossing tolls for HGVs
- How to calculate toll costs in GB and Europe
- Factors affecting the levy amount
- CO2 emission surcharge and road tax
- Low Emission Zones (LEZs)
- How the reformed levy works
- Future road pricing and user charging
Current HGV Road User Levy rates
The levy is banded by the vehicle's revenue weight, with separate rate tables for newer vehicles (Euro 6 or later) and older vehicles (Euro 5 or older). It can be paid daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. The rates below took effect on 1 April 2026 (uprated annually in line with UK inflation).
HGV levy rates — Euro 6 class or later (from 1 April 2026)
| HGV levy band | Weight (kg) | Daily | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12,000 to 31,000 | £3.22 | £8.05 | £16.10 | £161 |
| B | 31,001 to 38,000 | £7.74 | £19.35 | £38.70 | £387 |
| C | 38,001 and over | £9.67 | £30.95 | £61.90 | £619 |
HGV levy rates — Euro 5 class or older (from 1 April 2026)
| HGV levy band | Weight (kg) | Daily | Weekly | Monthly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 12,000 to 31,000 | £4.18 | £10.45 | £20.90 | £209 |
| B | 31,001 to 38,000 | £10.06 | £25.15 | £50.30 | £503 |
| C | 38,001 and over | £10.74 | £40.20 | £80.40 | £804 |
Disclaimer: rates change with annual uprating and the figures above are for guidance only. For official, binding information please see the gov.uk HGV levy service.
Who pays the levy — and who is exempt
Since the August 2023 reform, the levy is charged to non-UK-registered HGVs of 12,000kg or more that drive on a main road in the UK. A main road is one starting with an 'A' or an 'M' (for example, the A2 or the M20); almost all roads from UK ports are main roads. UK-registered HGVs no longer pay the levy separately — it is collected alongside their Vehicle Excise Duty.
You pay the levy for any day on which you drive on a main road. It is time-based: a daily levy covers all main-road driving in that 24-hour period, no matter how far you travel. If you stay longer than planned and your levy expires, you must pay for the additional days.
You do not need to pay for a 24-hour period if you only:
- drive on minor roads (a road starting with a 'B', or with no road number), or
- are parked up.
The following are exempt:
- Zero-emission HGVs that would normally be exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty (this does not apply to hybrids; non-UK HGVs must carry documentation proving zero tailpipe emissions)
- Vehicles used for driver instruction
- Showman's vehicles
- Island goods vehicles used only on small islands and not on mainland UK roads
Annual rate uprating
The reformed levy was frozen at the 2023 Autumn Statement and is now uprated each year in line with UK inflation (RPI). The 1 April 2026 rates shown above reflect that annual adjustment. The Department for Transport publishes the rate tables ahead of each April change, so operators should re-check the official figures before pricing long-term UK contracts.
River-crossing tolls for HGVs
The HGV levy is separate from the UK's individual crossing tolls. Most UK roads carry no toll for HGVs, but several major estuary crossings, bridges and tunnels do — and these are charged on top of any levy. Indicative HGV charges (as of 2026):
| Crossing | HGV charge (2026) |
|---|---|
| Dartford Crossing (Dart Charge), 2 axles over 3.5t | £4.20 (£3.60 pre-pay) |
| Dartford Crossing, multi-axle HGV | £8.40 (£7.20 pre-pay) |
| Mersey Gateway Bridge | £6.00 (£5.40 FastTag) |
| Tyne Tunnel | £6.00 (£5.40 FastTag) |
Some bridges and crossings in Scotland and elsewhere also carry HGV charges. Operators need to build these crossing tolls into route planning and cost calculations — they are easy to miss because they sit outside the levy.
How to calculate toll costs in GB and Europe
HGV operators can manage UK and continental toll costs together using IMPARGO.
With the IMPARGO truck toll calculator for Europe, operators can calculate tolls across European roads and motorways, including tunnels and bridges. The tool provides toll-optimized routing to help reduce toll expenses, and breaks down tolled and untolled kilometres by country and by provider — such as Toll Collect, ASFINAG, ViaPass, APRR and AREA.
This makes UK crossing tolls and continental tolls visible in one view, so dispatchers can price a job correctly before it leaves the yard.
Factors affecting the levy amount
The levy amount is set by three factors:
1. Vehicle weight: heavier vehicles fall into higher bands (A, B or C). Weight acts as a broad proxy for road wear and emissions.
2. Euro emissions class: newer vehicles (Euro 6 or later) pay less than older vehicles (Euro 5 or older) in the same weight band.
3. Levy duration: the levy is charged daily, weekly, monthly or yearly. Weekly is set at 5% of the annual rate and monthly at 10%, so frequent UK runs are usually cheaper covered by a longer-duration levy.
The levy is due for any day a relevant HGV of 12,000kg or more drives on a main road in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
CO2 emission surcharge and road tax
HGVs registered in the UK may face a CO2-related component within their Vehicle Excise Duty, varying with the vehicle's emissions. UK operators should factor this into their overall road tax and cost calculations; for non-UK operators the levy itself is the main GB-specific road charge to plan for.
Low Emission Zones (LEZs)
Several UK cities operate Clean Air Zones or Low Emission Zones that charge non-compliant HGVs on top of the levy and any crossing tolls. Birmingham's Clean Air Zone, Glasgow's LEZ and London's LEZ/ULEZ are examples. Operators should confirm their vehicles meet the required Euro standard for any zone on the route to avoid daily charges.
How the reformed levy works
After being suspended in August 2020, the HGV Road User Levy returned on 1 August 2023 in a reformed form. The reform tied the rate to the vehicle's weight band and Euro emissions class, and — importantly — narrowed the charge to non-UK HGVs, with UK HGVs paying through their Vehicle Excise Duty instead. The result is an emissions-weighted, time-based charge designed to have foreign operators contribute to road upkeep without double-charging UK-registered fleets.
Future road pricing and user charging
The UK continues to discuss longer-term road pricing options, including the possibility of per-mile charging as fuel-duty revenue declines with electrification. As of mid-2026, no nationwide distance-based scheme for HGVs has been introduced — the levy remains time-based. Operators should keep an eye on official announcements, since a move to distance-based charging would change UK cost planning significantly.
Conclusion
The reformed HGV Road User Levy is an emissions-weighted, time-based charge on non-UK HGVs of 12,000kg or more using Great Britain's main roads, with UK HGVs paying through Vehicle Excise Duty. Rates are uprated each April in line with inflation. River-crossing tolls (Dartford, Mersey Gateway, Tyne Tunnel and others), CO2-related VED components, and city Low Emission Zones all sit outside the levy and need separate planning. With distance-based road pricing still only under discussion, the levy stays time-based for now — but the figures move every year, so verify the official rates before pricing UK work.
