UK motoring changes 2024

Make sure you’re up to date on the rules of the road and check out the new motoring laws coming into effect through 2024. 

DVSA eyesight test changes

The DVSA is considering changing the eyesight section of the practical driving test for 2024. They’re consulting a medical panel, drivers and experts for better ways to conduct the test. 

The Agency have said they’re looking at making their methods more flexible, as well as potentially testing drivers’ eyesight in different levels of lighting. 

Currently, if you can read a number plate from 20 feet away you pass the eyesight test. 

New number plates

Every year there are two new sets of number plates, one in March and one in September. 

This year, you can register your new car under a ‘24’ number plate in March and a ‘74’ number plate in September.   

New standard number plates will follow the same format as previous years, with two letters used as an area code, followed by this year’s identifiers and lastly, three random characters, ie: XX24 XXX.

More electric cars

At least 22% of new cars sold in 2024 must produce zero emissions. The rule comes from the government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate which sets the path for all new cars sold in the UK to be zero emission by 2035. 

Launched last year, the mandate staggers sales targets for manufacturers over 12 years and requires that zero emissions cars make up at least 52% of sales in 2028 and 80% of sales in 2030. 

You’re likely to see more larger, electric vehicles on the road in 2024 too, as 10% of all vans sold over the course of the year must produce zero emissions. That figure rises to 46% in 2028 and 70% in 2030.

An end to the fuel duty freeze?

The Spring Budget could spell the end for the fuel duty freeze first put in place in January 2011, to prevent costs rising with inflation.  

The basic rate on petrol and diesel is 52.95p per litre (ppl), this number includes  the 5 ppl the government granted until the end of March 2024 to help with the cost-of-living crisis. 

HGV safety rules in London

Transport for London’s (TfL) Direct Vision Standard (DVS) will come into effect in October 2024. The scheme mandates that Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) must have a safety permit before entering Greater London. The aim is to reduce accidents and make the capital’s traffic-heavy roads safer for all drivers.

TfL will assign a star rating to HGVs based on the DVS, which measures how much of the road and surroundings the driver can see through their cab windows.  

If you want to know more about the government’s zero emissions plan, check out our blog on the petrol and diesel car ban.