There are a range of driving law changes coming into force in the UK in December.

Those using company cars and commercial vehicles are among the UK motorists set to be impacted the most by the December changes.

While electrical vehicle (EV) charging point operators will also need to be alert to new regulations that came into force during November because if broken, they could find themselves with a £10,000 fine.

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Driving law changes coming into force in December

Advisory fuel rates

Advisory fuel rates only apply to employees using a company car, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) explains.

The rates are used to calculate either how much:

  • To reimburse employees for business travel in their company cars
  • Employees need to repay for the cost of fuel used for private travel

From Sunday (December 1), HMRC are rolling out changes to the advisory fuel rates. These changes are:

Petrol

  • 1400cc or less - 12 pence/per mile (down 1 pence)
  • 1401cc to 2000cc - 14 (down 1 pence)
  • Over 2000cc - 23 pence/per mile (down 1 pence)

LPG

  • 1400cc or less - 11 pence/per mile (no change)
  • 1401cc to 2000cc - 13 (no change)
  • Over 2000cc - 21 pence/per mile (no change)

Diesel

  • 1600cc or less - 12 pence/per mile (down 1 pence)
  • 1601cc to 2000cc - 14 (down 1 pence)
  • Over 2000cc - 18 pence/per mile (down 2 pence)

Electric

  • 7 pence/per mile (down 1 pence)

The UK's road maintenance system

Hybrid cars are treated as either petrol or diesel cars for advisory fuel rates.

Smart tachographs

Version 2 smart tachographs must be retrofitted to commercial vehicles operating internationally from December 31 onwards, according to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) explains: "On or after 31 December 2024, a ‘full’ smart tachograph 2 or ‘transitional’ smart tachograph 2 must be retrofitted into in-scope vehicles with an analogue or digital tachograph undertaking international journeys.

"If the vehicle is operating only within the UK, then the vehicle can still use the original digital or analogue tachograph that has been fitted."

Electric vehicle charging

New regulations for electric vehicle (EV) charging came into effect on November 24, according to Mobility Portal.

These new regulations apply to charge point operators (CPOs) and if not followed could result in a £10,000 fine.

New EV charging regulations were introduced in the UK in November.New EV charging regulations were introduced in the UK in November. (Image: PA) Under the regulations EV charging points must:

  • Be accessible to the general public (not applicable to those located in restricted areas)
  • Offer contactless payment
  • Be reliable (ensuring they meet 99% uptime)
  • Offer free 24/7 helpline for EV drivers

While all charging point data will need to be:

  • Accurate
  • Accessible via the Open Charge Point Interface (OCPI)
  • Publicly available in a machine-readable format

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ZEV mandate

The ZEV mandate is a government policy that is in place to help transition the UK into battery electric vehicles (BEVs) by the end of the decade.

Under the mandate, major car manufacturers are required to sell 22 per cent of electric vehicles from its sales fleet in 2024.

From January 1, 2025 that will increase to 28 per cent and by 2030 it will be 80 per cent.

If the manufacturer doesn’t hit the target it will be fined £15,000 for every vehicle that it sells that does not comply with the mandate.