June 2026 Motoring Changes: MOT Rules, Mileage Allowance Rise and Driving Test Reforms Explained

The Road Ahead Just Got a Little Different

Imagine claiming back more money on every business mile you drive, finding out your electric van no longer needs the same MOT it did last year, or discovering that the rules around booking your driving test have quietly shifted beneath your feet. That's exactly what June 2026 brings for millions of UK drivers — a cluster of changes that, taken individually, might seem minor, but together represent a meaningful shift in how motoring is regulated, taxed, and administered in this country.

These aren't the kind of sweeping reforms that dominate front pages. They're the practical, nuts-and-bolts changes that affect your wallet, your vehicle's roadworthiness requirements, and — if you're a learner or know one — the process of getting behind the wheel legally. Let's unpack each one in detail.

What's Actually Changing in June 2026?

Three distinct developments are coming into effect or taking hold this month, as reported by WalesOnline:

1. The Approved Mileage Allowance Rate rises to 10p per mile (for the first 10,000 miles)

This is the rate at which HMRC allows employers to reimburse employees for using their own vehicles for work purposes — tax-free. The first-tier rate, covering the first 10,000 business miles in a tax year, has increased. This change is being attributed in part to Chancellor Rachel Reeves's fiscal adjustments and reflects a long-overdue acknowledgement that the previous rates had fallen behind the actual cost of running a vehicle.

2. MOT rule changes for certain electric vans

Specific categories of electric vans are subject to revised MOT requirements, with some lighter electric commercial vehicles seeing changes to what is tested and when. This forms part of a broader government effort to align MOT testing frameworks with the realities of electric vehicle technology.

3. New rules on driving test booking and management for learners

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced updated procedures around how learner drivers book, manage, and — crucially — cancel or transfer driving test appointments. These changes are partly aimed at cracking down on the secondary market in test slots, which has been a persistent problem.

Why These Changes Matter More Than You Think

The Mileage Allowance: A Long-Overdue Correction

The Approved Mileage Allowance Payment (AMAP) scheme has been a fixture of UK tax law for decades. Under the scheme, employers can pay employees up to a set rate per mile for using their personal vehicle on company business, and neither party pays tax or National Insurance on that payment. If an employer pays less than the approved rate, the employee can claim Mileage Allowance Relief through their Self Assessment or via their employer.

The problem? The core rate of 45p per mile for the first 10,000 miles had been frozen for years — since 2011, in fact. Meanwhile, fuel costs, insurance premiums, tyre prices, and general vehicle running costs have risen substantially. The AA and RAC have repeatedly highlighted that the actual cost of running a typical petrol car is now well above 45p per mile when all costs are factored in.

The rise to a 10p supplementary rate (bringing the effective reimbursable figure higher for the first 10,000 miles) signals that the Treasury is beginning to acknowledge this gap. For employees who regularly drive for work — sales representatives, care workers, tradespeople, and many others — this is genuinely meaningful. It means more of your actual costs can be covered tax-free, or that the relief you can claim if your employer doesn't top up the full rate becomes more substantial.

Electric Van MOT Changes: The Regulatory Catch-Up

The MOT test was designed for internal combustion engine vehicles. Electric vehicles — and electric vans in particular — have fundamentally different drivetrains, meaning some traditional MOT checks are irrelevant (there's no exhaust emissions test, for instance) while new checks relating to battery systems, regenerative braking, and high-voltage components are increasingly important.

Under existing legislation, including the Road Traffic Act 1988 and the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 (as amended), all vehicles above a certain age require a valid MOT certificate to be used on public roads. The question of what that test covers for EVs has been an evolving regulatory challenge.

The June 2026 changes specifically affect certain electric vans — particularly lighter commercial vehicles — and bring their testing requirements into closer alignment with the technical realities of electric powertrains. This isn't a relaxation of safety standards; it's a recalibration. Testers will be looking at the right things for the right vehicles, rather than applying a framework built for diesel engines to vehicles that don't have one.

For fleet operators and small business owners running electric vans, this matters practically: it affects what garages need to check, what advisory notices might appear on your certificate, and potentially the cost of the test itself.

The Legal Angle: What Underpins These Changes?

AMAP and Tax Law

The Approved Mileage Allowance Payment rates are set under the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003, specifically under Chapter 2 of Part 4. HMRC publishes the approved rates, and any change requires either primary legislation or a statutory instrument. The rise in the supplementary rate reflects a Treasury decision to update these figures — something campaigners and motoring organisations have lobbied for repeatedly.

Importantly, if your employer reimburses you at a rate above the AMAP rate, the excess becomes a taxable benefit. If they reimburse you at a rate below it, you can claim the shortfall as Mileage Allowance Relief. Knowing the current approved rate isn't just useful — it's essential for anyone completing a Self Assessment tax return.

MOT Regulations and Type Approval

The legal basis for MOT testing sits within the Road Traffic Act 1988 and secondary legislation. Crucially, the specific items that must be tested are set out in guidance issued by the DVSA, which can be updated without requiring full parliamentary legislation. This is how the June 2026 electric van changes are being implemented — through updated DVSA testing standards rather than a new Act of Parliament.

It's worth noting that driving without a valid MOT (when one is required) is an offence under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1988. The fine can reach £1,000, and your insurance may be invalidated — which in itself creates further legal exposure.

Driving Test Booking Rules

The DVSA's new booking management rules are aimed squarely at the problem of test slot touting. Third-party websites have been buying up available test slots and reselling them to desperate learners at inflated prices — sometimes hundreds of pounds above the official DVSA fee. This practice, while not illegal in itself, has been widely condemned as exploitative, particularly given the existing backlog of learners waiting for tests.

The DVSA has the authority to set its own administrative procedures under the Road Traffic Act 1988, and the new rules — which are understood to include tighter restrictions on cancellations, transfers, and the use of automated booking tools — are designed to make bulk-buying of slots much harder.

What Drivers Should Know: Practical Takeaways

If you drive for work:

• Check your employer's current mileage reimbursement rate against the updated AMAP figures
• If you're being paid less than the approved rate, you can claim Mileage Allowance Relief — do this via Self Assessment or by contacting HMRC directly
• Keep detailed mileage logs: date, destination, purpose, and distance. HMRC can and does ask for evidence

If you run or operate electric vans:

• Contact your MOT testing station to confirm they are aware of the updated testing requirements for your specific vehicle category
• Check whether your van falls within the affected weight and classification categories — not all electric vans are impacted equally
• Don't assume your previous MOT experience will be identical; the advisory notices and checks may differ

If you're a learner driver or know one:

• Book your driving test exclusively through the official DVSA website (gov.uk/book-driving-test) — never through third-party reseller sites
• Be aware that the new rules may affect how and when you can reschedule; read the cancellation terms carefully before booking
• If you've already paid a third party for a test slot, you may have limited recourse — this is a further reason to avoid these services entirely

Looking Ahead: The Bigger Picture

These June 2026 changes are individually modest, but they point to something larger: the UK's motoring regulatory framework is slowly — sometimes frustratingly slowly — catching up with the realities of modern driving.

The AMAP rate freeze since 2011 was a symptom of a broader policy inertia around the true costs of vehicle use. As more drivers are pushed towards electric vehicles through both incentives and the eventual phasing out of new petrol and diesel car sales, the question of how mileage allowances, MOT frameworks, and tax structures adapt will become increasingly pressing.

For electric vans specifically, the June changes are almost certainly not the last word. As the commercial EV fleet grows and battery technology evolves, testing standards will need to keep pace — expect further revisions in the years ahead.

And on driving tests, the DVSA's crackdown on slot touting reflects a system under genuine strain. With waiting times for tests still running into months in many parts of the country, the pressure on learners — and the temptation to use unofficial channels — isn't going away. Regulatory fixes help, but the underlying capacity problem needs addressing too.

For now, the practical message is clear: update your mileage records, check your van's MOT status, and book your driving test through official channels only. Small changes, handled correctly, can save you real money — and real headaches.