Company Car Tax changes to WLTP emission rules April 2020

July 2019 Update:

The way that cars are tested for company car tax purposes changed earlier than expected. The EU’s ‘Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure’ (WLTP) and Real Driving Emissions (RDE) came into effect on September 1 2018, replacing the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) tests. You will see some WLTP figures appearing in our vehicle ranges as new models are released and tested with this new procedure. Read more>

New vehicle emissions testing is based on real driving data

The way that cars are measured for company car tax purposes will change from 6th April 2020 when the government is proposing to switch over to the ‘World Light-duty Test Procedure’ (WLTP). Therefore moving away from the current NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) measurement.

WLTP is a laboratory cycle that has been designed to more accurately reflect the likely fuel consumption of vehicles in real world conditions. Although the government does recognise fuel consumption can also be influenced by an individual’s driving style and prevailing driving conditions.

The Department for Transport proposed all manufacturers change over to the new WLTP fuel consumption figures from January 01, 2019 in their promotional material. This will make the manufacturers’ claimed range figures far more realistic, and give company car drivers the first sight of how the changes to fuel consumption and CO2 emissions will vary from 2020.

• The current NEDC method of measuring car emissions and fuel consumption was designed in the 1980s and has become increasingly outdated.
• In addition, the new WLTP is based on real driving data, takes 10 minutes longer to complete. As a result WLTP figures should better match the on road performance of cars.
• There are four parts to the WLTP driving cycle and all have different average speeds: low, medium, high and extra high.
• Each part of the WLTP driving cycle contains a variety of driving phases, which includes stops, acceleration and braking.
• For cars each powertrain configuration will be tested with WLTP for the car’s lightest (most economical) and heaviest (least economical) version.

Read more about how to calculate your company car tax.

Find out about DriveElectric’s real-world range figures.