Every new car rule coming into place in March including £1k fines for drivers

Brits have been warned against a flurry of new rules that could see motorists being slapped with hefty fines. March 1 marks several changes that all need to be familiar with - including the release of the new '25' number plates.

The big changes come ahead of the new financial year (April 1) which will also see major reforms to Vehicle Excise Duty (aka road tax) as well as the Expensive Car Supplement (Additional Rate) for vehicles exceeding £40,000. It means thousands will soon be subject to a £195 bill - but there is a.

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New '25' number plates

The introduction of '25' number plates on Saturday, March 1, will be the first registration plate change to take place in 2025 and will impact drivers across England, and Wales. Since 2001, the UK Government has rolled out new number plates every year on March 1 and September 1 to differentiate when a new car has been registered.

Vehicles registered between September and the end of February have the current year plus 50 (which is why the last plate released was '74'. However, according to the Gov UK, you cannot 'use a private number that makes a vehicle look newer than it is'. "For example, an '07' registration number on a 2003 registered vehicle," it added.

So, if you're looking to get a custom plate, make sure you avoid getting a '25' one unless your vehicle was registered on or after March 1, 2025. Otherwise, you'll risk a hefty penalty. In a statement sent to the , Nyo Logan at said: "While it may be tempting to personalise your number plate, the UK’s number plate laws are quite strict. Failure to comply can result in a fine of up to £1,000, your car failing its MOT, invalid insurance, and the police removing your vehicle from the road until the plates are updated."

The pro, who recommends getting your number plate checked by a trusted supplier or the DVLA if you're concerned, shared seven more ways you can accidentally invalidate your number plate. These are:

Colour: number plates must be white at the front and yellow at the rear. No other colours are permitted.

Incorrect font or spacing: All numbers and letters on the plate must be in Charles Wright font, 79mm in height and 50mm in width (excluding 1 or I), 14mm thick, and each character should have an 11mm gap between the next.

Flags: Only specific flags can be displayed on number plates. These include the Union Jack, Scottish Saltire, Cross of St. George or Welsh Dragon.

Illuminated plates: A white light to illuminate your vehicle's rear plate is permitted, but any other form of illumination is illegal.

Tints: Tinted number plates are not legal for road use as they can make it more difficult for police and motoring systems to identify the vehicle.

Dirty number plates: Plates must always be visible to the police and any automated motoring systems.

Tampered plates: Using materials to alter the characters on your plate or rearranging them to spell out a different sequence is not permitted in the UK.

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Advisory Fuel Rates

Reviewed by HMRC on the 1st of every March, June, September and December, Advisory Fuel Rates aren't actually compulsory. Instead, they're a guide used for reimbursement of mileage driven by company car drivers.

As reports: "Employers are free to calculate and use their own fuel mileage rates, using the exact prices paid at the pump and the fuel consumption figures for the vehicles used. Provided they have kept sufficient records to show how it has been calculated and are able to demonstrate that the rate paid does no more than cover the cost of fuel, then there are no tax consequences if this is what the employer chooses to do."

For diesel cars with engines up to 1,600cc, the Advisory Fuel Rate will increase from 11 to 12 pence per mile (ppm). For petrol vehicles with engine sizes between and 1,401-2,000cc, rates will hump from 14ppm to 15ppm - while rates for electric vehicles (EVs) will remain at 7ppm.

Other major driving changes

As previously mentioned, and expensive car supplements will soon change - but this won't take place until April. The government's £120 million plan to roll-out more electric vans, taxis and motorbikes, which was announced on February 25, will continue through March.

This will allow businesses and van drivers to receive grants up to £2,500 when buying small vans up to 2.5 tonnes and up to £5,000 for larger vans up to 4.25 tonnes. The government says it is also supporting taxi drivers make the switch to electric for another year, by making £4,000 available to buy an iconic zero emission black cab amongst other models, 'making journeys cleaner and more comfortable for passengers'.

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