UK motoring law changes 2026
Several significant changes to UK motoring law and road policy are in effect or coming into force during 2026. From smart motorway safety upgrades and expanding clean air zones to new obligations around zero emission vehicle sales, here is what drivers and fleet operators need to know.
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Smart motorway safety requirements
Following the Transport Select Committee's 2023 report and the government's subsequent response, National Highways has been required to accelerate safety improvements on all-lane-running (ALR) smart motorways - those with no permanent hard shoulder. The programme requires stopped-vehicle detection radar to be installed at all ALR sections and for Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) to be spaced no more than every 500 metres on upgraded sections.
No new ALR smart motorways will be built. The focus in 2026 is completing the safety technology rollout on existing sections. Until radar stopped-vehicle detection is fully operational on a section, variable speed limits and live lane closures are the primary tools for managing breakdowns. Our guide to motorway driving rules explains how to use ERAs and what to do if your vehicle breaks down in a live lane.
Zero emission vehicle mandate
The Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires a specified percentage of new cars and vans sold by each manufacturer to be zero emission. The requirement rises each year: 22% in 2024, 28% in 2025, and 37% in 2026. Manufacturers who fall short face significant fines.
The mandate directly affects vehicle availability and pricing. Manufacturers are managing their model mix and incentive structures to hit their ZEV targets. For drivers, this means a continued expansion of electric vehicle options and, in some cases, adjusted pricing on conventional petrol and diesel models as manufacturers balance their emissions mix. There are no direct restrictions on petrol or diesel drivers arising from the ZEV mandate itself.
Expanding clean air zones
Clean Air Zones (CAZs) are live in multiple UK cities and continue to expand their coverage and vehicle scope in 2026. Non-compliant vehicles - typically older petrol and diesel models that do not meet Euro 4 or Euro 6 emission standards - are charged a daily fee to enter.
Current live CAZs include Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside. Boundary changes and new entrants to the scheme are being implemented progressively. If you drive an older vehicle or frequently travel to city centres, checking your vehicle's compliance status on the government's CAZ checker before travelling avoids unexpected charges.
Mobile phone driving law
The law on mobile phone use while driving was updated in March 2023 to close a loophole that had allowed filming, scrolling and photographing while stationary. Under the current law, it is illegal to hold and use a mobile phone for any purpose while driving or while stationary with the engine running. This includes changing a music app, reading a notification or taking a photo.
The permitted exception is contactless payment at a drive-through with the vehicle stationary. Hands-free use via a Bluetooth system is still permitted. Penalties for an offence are 6 penalty points and a £200 fine - enough to trigger an automatic licence revocation for drivers within two years of passing their test. Our guide to penalty points explained covers how points accumulate and affect insurance.
20mph zones
Wales introduced a default 20mph speed limit in built-up areas in September 2023. In England, 20mph zones are implemented at local authority level and continue to expand across towns and cities in 2026. The zones are not uniform - some roads within a 20mph area may retain a higher limit where traffic management signs indicate it.
The practical difference for drivers is that many residential streets, school zones and town centres where 30mph was previously the limit are now 20mph. Speed camera deployments have increased in newly-signed 20mph zones, and fixed penalty notices are the standard enforcement tool.
Autonomous vehicle legislation
The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 provides the legal framework for self-driving vehicles to be used on UK roads. In 2026, the practical effect is limited - no fully self-driving vehicles are authorised for unsupervised public road use yet. However, the Act establishes the liability and authorisation regime that manufacturers will need to meet before any such approval.
Advanced driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane keeping and automatic emergency braking remain driver-assistance features, not autonomous driving. Drivers remain legally responsible for the vehicle at all times when using them.
Short-term cover and compliance
For drivers using a vehicle they do not normally drive, checking that the vehicle meets any CAZ standards before entering a zone is worth doing in advance. If you are borrowing a car for a day or collecting a recently-purchased vehicle, temporary car insurance provides comprehensive cover on that vehicle from the moment you need it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the main motoring law changes for 2026?
The key changes affecting most drivers in 2026 are: smart motorway safety upgrades (radar technology and shorter ERA spacing on ALR sections), the ZEV mandate requiring 37% zero emission new car sales, expanding Clean Air Zones in multiple UK cities, and the continued enforcement of the 2023 mobile phone driving law.
What is the ZEV mandate and does it affect petrol drivers?
The Zero Emission Vehicle mandate requires manufacturers to sell a rising percentage of zero emission vehicles each year - 37% in 2026. It applies to manufacturers, not to individual drivers. There are no direct restrictions on buying or driving a petrol or diesel vehicle as a result of the mandate.
Which UK cities have clean air zones in 2026?
Live Clean Air Zones include Bath, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Portsmouth, Sheffield and Tyneside. Boundaries and vehicle scope vary by city. Check your vehicle's compliance using the government's online CAZ checker before travelling into any of these city centres.
Is it still illegal to use a phone at a red light?
Yes. The 2023 rule change made it illegal to hold and use a mobile phone while driving or while stationary with the engine running - which includes waiting at traffic lights. The only exception is contactless payment at a drive-through while stationary.
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