Joseph Law

Bumper Content Writer

Alastair Shephard

Content Writer

In the last few years there have been so many new car manufacturers arriving on the UK market it’s hard to keep up, the majority of these new brands are Chinese-owned EV companies.

Now Chinese EVs are proving to be quirky cars at a very affordable price, but which ones are the best?

Since 2007 SIAC Motors in China has owned the MG brand, formerly known for classic British sports cars. 

They now offer a range of hybrid and fully electric vehicles, ranging from small city cars to SUVs. The 

 is the latter, being a medium-sized electric SUV.

Starting at £30,495 the ZS is good value, coming equipped with adaptive cruise control, the ability to pre-warm the car through the relevant app, and active city braking. 

Inside, the SE model features fabric seats and a 10” touchscreen display.

Unless you’re interested in Formula-E, Nio is not likely to be a name you’re familiar with, but the premium Chinese EV brand is set to launch in early 2025. 

 is said to be in competition with the Mercedes EQC, BMW iX3 and Porsche Macan.

When you look at the spec sheet it’s clear they’re not playing around. With over 400hp, 7.1 surround sound and all the safety features you could dream of, many built with the premise of self-driving in mind.

BYD has had vehicles on UK roads since 2013, in the form of electric and diesel-electric buses. 

 is their first SUV, at nearly £38,000 it sits somewhere in the middle of the market, with various premium features potentially giving it an edge over the MG ZS.

With 260 miles of range, it’s slightly worse than the MG, and is considerably worse than one of its mainstream competitors, the Kia EV6, which has a claimed range of 360 miles. 

 is a quirky compact city car, capable of 193 miles on a single charge, whilst its size may suggest an affordable EV, it is actually aimed at the luxury end of the market, to compete with the likes of the Volvo EX30.

Styling on the 03 is a tricky one, to me it looks like a classic Porsche from the front, a Vauxhall Adam from the side, and a Nissan Leaf from the back.

This isn’t inherently a bad thing, it certainly gives a quirky look. Equipment is plentiful with sat nav from a large infotainment screen, adaptive cruise control, 360 cameras and a facial recognition system for unlocking.

Until the BYD Seagull is released in 2025, the 

 is the company's smallest car. Whilst the exterior isn’t much to look at, especially compared to the Ora 03, the interior is actually quite nice, with high-quality leatherette and sleek curves to the dashboard.

At £26,195 it’s a good bit cheaper than the Ora too, despite that it still packs 200hp and a decent trim level, especially when compared to European or even Japanese-made cars.

 is more of a mid-size hatchback than a small city car, the price puts it in-line with this category, especially when considering the amount of tech and features it has. 

Available in 4 trim levels, from “SE” up to “Trophy Extended Range”, even the most basic model has MG pilot - a lane keeping, adaptive cruise type system -, and a 10” touchscreen and will do 0-60 in 7.5 seconds. 

With new vehicles coming to market constantly, there are quite a few scheduled to be released in 2025, including some exciting electric sports cars.

Hailed as being the first all-electric sports car sold in the UK (when it releases at least!), the MG Cyberster is both a homage to the British brands' sports cars of old and a tie-in to the newest tech on the market, that is typical of Chinese-made EVs.

With the top-of-the-line model expected to have 4-wheel drive and just over 500 horsepower, it should be a load of fun, whether the nearly 2-tonne curb weight will hamper that is something different. 

The Cyberster will also feature the very supercar-esque “scissor doors”, it is certainly one of the most exciting EVs to look out for in 2025.

As the first Chinese brand electric pickup truck to come to the UK, the 

 will be eagerly awaited by those looking for a 

 friendly pickup with all the features found on other Chinese EV brands.

With a payload of 1,000kg and a combined range of 205 miles, it should be a good companion to those needing to transport tools or materials reasonably short distances.

Although with 2-wheel drive only it won't be the best option for those needing to cross rough terrain.

The MIFA 7 could well be a good alternative to the Mercedes EQV, or the Volkswagen ID Buzz, being considerably cheaper than the Merc and about the same as the VW, the extra features are where the Maxus shines.

Its combined range is just under 400 miles, which is much better than the EQV and the ID Buzz.

It also comes with Nappa leather captains chairs, adaptive cruise control and the usual touchscreen infotainment systems. The MIFA 9 is expected to be available in the UK from early 2025.

On the whole, the reports have been very good for most of the recently launched Chinese EVs. with BYD topping the list for reliability.

With each manufacturer offering a different selection, from MG with its sporty Cyberster, and Maxus prioritising MPV and commercial vehicles, there’s no one stand-out marque just yet.

Whilst there have been some well-discussed quality issues with Tesla, their recent models have seen better quality control. That said, for the cost and features you get, the Chinese brands do tend to offer more value for money.

 has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.

Top 10 Chinese Electric Cars on Sale in the UK

There are a few important things to keep on top of when owning or driving a car. Ensuring your car is MOT’d, taxed and insured is something every driver should know how to do.

With modern technology, there’s no excuse either, all you need is an internet connection and your car's registration number. The service for checking your road tax expiry also offers useful information about your MOT status, too.

Thankfully the gov.uk website has a quick and easy service for checking car tax, anyone can use it to check any car registration:

Why You Need to Check If Your Car is Taxed

Having car tax, or Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) to use its official name, is a legal requirement to drive on UK roads. 

The punishment for not taxing your car depends on how and when you are caught, but it can range from a £100 fine, to criminal convictions and vehicle seizure.

A different service must be used to check if your car is insured: the 

 database. To check if your car is insured, follow these steps:

Having a car insurance policy is a legal requirement to drive on public roads in the UK. You must have a minimum of third-party cover. This ensures that if you are involved in a collision, the other party will be able to claim against your insurance company for their losses.

Driving without insurance is a serious offence, and comes with a range of punishments starting at a £300 fine and 6 penalty points.

 is an annual test of roadworthiness, carried out by qualified personnel at an approved MOT station. To check how long your MOT is valid, follow the steps below:

You can also view previous MOTs using this service, including any minor or major defects and advisories. 

Having a valid MOT certificate is required to tax a vehicle, and driving without either is a serious offence. The MOT checks all the safety aspects of your car, including tyres, suspension and more. 

You should be aware of when your MOT is due to expire in advance, as you can book at test up to 30 days early, this allows you time to fix any faults.

How to Avoid Fines, Penalty Points or Vehicle Seizure when Driving

It may seem like a lot, but there are only really a few things to remember:

If you do these 4 things, and maintain a good standard of driving, there is no reason to worry about fines or penalty points!

If you find yourself forgetting about your car’s MOT or insurance renewal until the last minute, here are a few tips on how to remember for the future:

If your MOT is due soon, consider using Bumper’s 

, this allows you to spread the cost of MOT work with interest-free payments.

Is My Car Taxed & Insured: How To Check

One of the biggest changes announced in the Autumn budget is to the tax status of electric vehicles, coming into force in April 2025, the start of the new tax year. Electric cars will pay significantly more in some cases.

In this article, we’ll cover exactly what electric car owners will be expected to pay, and how it's changing.

Announced in late 2024, significant changes to the vehicle excise duty (road tax) will come into force in April 2025, the most impacted will be owners of electric vehicles.

First Year Road Tax (VED) for New Electric Vehicles

Currently, electric vehicles are exempt from a first-year VED charge, in April 2025 that will change; any vehicle registered after April 1 will incur a £10 first-year VED.

Whilst this ‘first year’ rate has risen for EVs, it is still agreeable compared to many petrol and diesel vehicles that will be taxed according to their emissions level, with some costing many hundreds of pounds for the first year.

Second Year Onward Road Tax (VED) for New Electric Vehicles

This is where the biggest change has come, whereas electric cars were exempt from VED before, after April 1st 2025, they will pay the same £195 as petrol and diesel cars. This also applies to all-electric cars registered from 1st April 2017.

What Will the Budget Mean for Existing EV Drivers?

Regardless of the age of your car, you will now pay some kind of road tax/VED, how much exactly depends on the year of first registration. The thresholds are usually the 1st of April, as this is when budget announcements often come into force, as it’s the start of the tax year.

EVs Registered Between 1st March 2001 and 31st March 2017

From 1st April 2025, any electric car registered before March 2017 

Currently (prior to April 2025) electric cars of this age do not pay any VED.

Electric Cars First Registered After 1st April 2017

Electric cars registered after 1st April 2017 will now pay £195 per year in VED. This includes any EVs including those registered after 1st April 2025.

This is probably the biggest shift in the taxation of electric cars, as those who bought them in part to benefit from the free road tax, at any point in the last 8 years, will now pay the same road tax as a higher-polluting diesel vehicle!

Expensive Car Supplement and Electric Cars

Also known as the Luxury Car Tax, this is an additional VED amount of £410 per year, that is payable on the first 5 years the vehicle is taxed. It only applies to cars with a sale price of over £40,000. This applies to both EVs and petrol/diesel vehicles.

Does the Luxury Car Tax Apply to Older Electric Cars?

No, the expensive car supplement will only apply to EVs that are registered on or after the 1st April 2025. Any car that is registered before that date will not pay any extra tax, even if its sale price is above £40,000.

April Tax Changes Affect on Older Electric Cars

Many of the changes, including the luxury car tax on EVs, only apply to cars registered after April 2025, but one of the biggest changes will come to those currently enjoying tax-free motoring in an older electric car. 

By my calculations, using rough sales estimates year by year, there are nearly 2 million EVs on the road that were registered after April 2017, all of these will now pay £195 per year in tax, alongside their diesel and petrol counterparts.

Considering this may well have been the reason why so many adopted EVs, and the fact that pre-2017 cars, both diesel, petrol and electric will attract much lower taxes, this could well reduce the demand for newer EVs.

Are Electric Cars still Cheaper to Tax than Petrol and Diesels?

It depends on the age of the vehicle, but especially when buying new, it is generally still more tax-efficient to buy an electric car. 

This is because even though many electric cars are subject to the £410 per year expensive car supplement, many similar (luxury or SUV cars) petrol and diesel vehicles will be hit with a large first-year tax bill too. Even the most expensive EVs will only pay £10 in first-year VED. 

Even a modest vehicle, like the 1.0-litre petrol Fiat 500, will be more to tax than the battery equivalent. Its 105g of CO2 per km costing the owner £390 in first-year tax, and £195 every year after. The 500e being just £10 in year one, then £195 per year.

As one of the most common electric cars in the UK, here is a good breakdown of what you’ll pay to run a new or used Tesla, under the new regulations. 

An example of the tax paid on a new Tesla, registered after April 1st 2025.

These figures are using the base model of each offering, for the Model 3 this is the rear wheel drive version, without any optional extras, selecting any options will add the £410 per year tax.

I have excluded the new Model S and Model X, as they are no longer available in right-hand drive in the UK.

As the luxury car tax only applies to electric after April 2025, there are no older Teslas that will incur this, however, the age of the car will determine the VED payable:

How you feel about the aforementioned tax changes will probably depend on how you are affected. In some ways it makes sense, but cars are getting more and more expensive. If the government wants to encourage EV adoption, the £40,000 threshold might need to be looked at.

Whether your car is an EV, petrol or diesel, something that can ease your finances is using Bumper’s zero-interest car repair financing. Find a 

Do You Pay Road Tax On Electric Cars?

To many, cars are as much a tool as they are a fashion or status symbol, with certain brands leaning into this by creating crazy one-off examples fitted with diamond-encrusted dashboards and gold on the ceiling. 

There are also cars that are expensive because of their incredible technological advancements, in this article, I’ll showcase some of each.

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail - £23 million

Let's kick off with the most expensive dealer-to-public sale, by none other than 

, cementing their place as the most prestigious marque in the world. The car was bought for £23 million, purportedly by the Meilland family, famous for their Roses, hence the name. 

The end user also clearly had an influence on the interior, with thousands of pieces of black sycamore detailing throughout designed to look like rose petals. The car uses a modified BMW N74 engine; a 6.75 litre V12.

Before the aforementioned droptail, a special version of a long-established Rolls model; the 

 was commissioned. Instead of the traditional aluminium body panels covering the boot, it was fitted with marine-esque Caleidolegno wood, which is essentially a fancy veneer.

At a whopping 5.8 metres long (a 19-footer to use boat terminology!) you’d struggle to park the 

 at your local supermarket, then again with no roof and a one-of-a-kind, removable timepiece made by Bovet 1822 mounted to the dashboard, you probably wouldn't want to anyway.

Bugatti La Voiture Noire - £10.5 million

As the first non-Rolls Royce on the list, the 

 is a bit left-field, it's based on the Chiron Supercar, except it has a good half a metre more aero and bodywork, making it altogether more extravagant, if that was possible.

Interestingly, the inspiration and name for the La Voiture Noire comes from a limited-run model, beloved by Jean Bugatti, son of the founder Ettore Bugatti. The Type 57SC Coupé Aero in question was given the name 

The contemporary La Voiture Noir was created to honour the 110th anniversary of both Jean Bugatti and the Bugatti company.

Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - $10.9 million

It may seem somewhat conservative compared to some cars on this list, especially those below, but the Ferrari 250 GT broke the record for the 

first-ever car to sell for over $10 million

If you remember the golden era of Top Gear, you’ll probably recall Jeremy Clarkson visiting the buyer's house, none other than radio DJ turned temporary Top Gear presenter Chris Evans.

Mercedes-Benz W196 Formula 1 - $29.6 million

In 2013 a W196 sold for nearly $30 million at 

. In the early and mid 50’s the W196 dominated across multiple disciplines and countries. 

The car sold in 2013 was the most successful of all the surviving W196 models, winning two World Championship-qualifying Grand Prix races and taking racing driver Juan Fangio to his second win of the Drivers' World Championship.

Whilst British-made Rolls-Royces top the list for most expensive new cars, most of the expensive cars sold at auction are Italian or German made; Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Mercedes and Alfa Romeos. In 2017 an Aston Martin DBR1 sold for over $22 million, making it the 

most expensive British car sold at public auction

 that sold retired from all three years, its sister car, the DBR1/2 however was the company's most successful car ever, winning at the Nurburgring Spa and the Goodwood Tourist Trophy. 

Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider - $17.8 million

Clearly a popular car among those buying $10m+ cars, this is the second time this model has appeared on this list, but this sale surpassed Chris Evans’ one in 2008 by a decent margin, the auction was held early last year, making it the 

most expensive car sold at auction in 2024

 is quite special, being the last example built, it features the iconic 3.0 litre V12 engine, a beautiful tan interior and that typically Ferrari red paintwork. The car also benefitted from Ferrari Classiche Certification and full owner history – to be expected at nearly $20 million I suppose!

Mercedes 300SLR Uhlenhaut Coupé - $143 million

I discussed the 300SL in a recent article about record-breaking cars, for the standard road car managed 150mph in 1955. In 2022 an even prettier version of the 300SL; the 

highest hammer price of any car in the world: $143 million

Rudolph Uhlenhaut was the British-born engineer behind both the 300SL and the 300SL SLR racing version. The 300 SLR was heralded as “The greatest sports racing car ever built” by F1 driver and Mercedes race team test driver Stirling Moss. 

The World's Most Expensive Cars

In the last 10 years, the number of pickup trucks on UK roads has exploded.

Initially, they were usually only used by farmers, but in recent years the business use of Toyota Hiluxes, Ford Rangers and others has become far more popular.

The rise in pickup trucks being favoured by businesses is due to the favourable tax conditions they are subject to.

However, with the government's latest budget announcement, that is set to change. I take a look into what exactly these changes mean.

What are the Current Rules Around Pickup Trucks?

Until April 2025, pickup trucks with a load capacity of one tonne or more, are classified as commercial vehicles, this means lower BiK (company car tax) for the employee and more beneficial accounting for the business. 

Double-cab pickup trucks will no longer be classified as commercial vehicles, but as cars. This means higher income tax for the employee and less tax write-offs for the business.

A vehicle provided by an employer, that can be used for personal use, is subject to company car tax, as it is considered a part of their remuneration.

Before April 6th 2025, Pickup trucks are considered commercial vehicles, and as such are subject to a standard £3,960 taxable amount regardless of value or emissions.

After April 6th however, they will be taxed as cars, meaning their CO2 emissions will determine their BIK taxable rate: most will be much higher due to their large diesel engines.

Before April 2025, where pickup trucks are still considered commercial vehicles, businesses can claim 100% of the cost back against corporation tax, the same as buying machinery or stock, this is called a Capital Allowance.

After April 2025, when double cab pickup trucks will be considered a personal car, they cannot be claimed as Capital Allowance, and will not offer as many tax savings as a commercial vehicle. 

How Much More Company Car Tax Will You Pay After April 2025 on a Pickup?

Here’s an example of the kind of figures to expect, should you purchase a double cab pickup truck after April 6th 2025, vs what it would be before. Remember to take these figures as a rough guide, and do your own calculations before committing to a purchase or lease.

*P11D value will vary depending on specification

When Will The Pickup Truck Changes Take Effect?

The rule changes will come into force in early April 2025, but what if you’ve already got a pickup truck?

How to Avoid the New Pickup Truck Changes

If you don’t want to pay the much higher company car tax on pickup trucks, there are a few things you can do:

The April 2025 Pickup Truck Tax Changes Explained

Company car tax is a major consideration for both businesses and employees, one simple specification change can cause hundreds of pounds more in tax. This is a large reason why electric cars have been so popular. 

But with the new government budget, are they still good for company car tax, and is that set to change?

When an employee is given a company car that can be used for non-business purposes, that is defined as an employment benefit and is therefore subject to taxation.

The level of taxation is dependent on the vehicle’s emissions level, its value when new and your personal tax bracket.

As an incentive to reduce emissions, company car tax rates are almost universally lower for electric and hybrid cars. With around one million company cars on UK roads, this is sure to have benefits to our national environmental impact.

 for electric cars is set at the lowest rate possible; 2%. This will rise between 2025 and 2029:

However, the BiK rate is not the only factor in calculating how much tax you will pay, read on for more on that.

Why is Company Car Tax Rising For Electric Cars?

Ultimately, the taxation of motoring as a whole is on the rise, but electric car rates are not rising as quickly as petrol and diesel, meaning there is still an incentive for drivers to pick electric where possible.

The same story can be seen in VED or road tax, previously many electric cars were exempt, from 2025 there will be hundreds of thousands of Teslas, Leafs and other EVs that will pay nearly £200 per year, and £20 on first-year tax.

Once again though, these increases are minimal compared to petrol and diesel, with some reasonably modest cars attracting £700 in first-year road tax.

Hybrids are a little more complex to work out, they are based, like petrol and diesel cars, on their emissions level, but also on their battery-only range.

Self-charging non-plug-in hybrids are essentially considered the same as petrol or diesel cars, as they emit more than 50 g/km CO2 and their battery-only range is usually in single digits. For this reason, the only factor that affects their BiK rate is their emissions. 

For example, a self-charging Toyota Prius has a CO2 emission figure of 94, meaning its rate is 23%. A PHEV Prius with its 39-mile electric range, is charged 12% BiK.

Below is a table of the plug-in-hybrid BiK rates, including the from April 2025 and from April 2026 rates too.

When comparing rates on PHEV or battery EVs to petrol and diesel cars it’s clear that the government is incentivising low-emission vehicles for company use. Many cars, even mild and conventional hybrids, have CO2 emissions that put their BiK rate at well above 20%.

The table below shows the benefit in kind rates for petrol and diesel vehicles - note there is an additional 4% charge for diesel cars that do not meet the RDE2 standard.

There are three factors that affect the amount you’ll pay per year for a company car, these are:

A car's P11D value is inclusive of any optional extras and delivery but does not include the registration and first-year tax. The P11D Value will often be listed on the manufacturer's website or lease information.

How Your Tax Band Affects Company Car Tax

Because a company car is considered remuneration, the tax band you are currently in will affect the additional tax from a company car. The tax bands for income tax are shown below:

 Tax Band Income Tax Rate Basic Up to £50,270 20% Higher £50,270 - £125,140 40% Additional Over £125,140 45% 

This is determined by the car's emissions level, and if it's a plug-in hybrid, its electric-only range. I go over this in greater detail in an earlier section.

 Calculate the taxable value, to do this multiply the car’s P11D Value by the BiK percentage rate, for example, a £35,000 hybrid car with a 30-mile range would be:

 Apply this to your personal tax rate, If you are a basic rate taxpayer:

£1,680 is the additional tax you will pay per year, due to receiving that company car.

How Does Your Tax Band Affect Company Car Tax?

The amount you get paid and therefore your income tax band massively affect how much company car tax you will pay. This is because a company car is considered an alternative form of income, so is taxed at the same rate.

As we saw in the example above if you have a company car worth £35,000 and are in the basic rate tax bracket, you will pay 

If you were in the higher rate bracket, this amount would increase to 

Are Electric Cars Still Better For Company Car Tax?

Yes, electric cars still offer much cheaper company car tax rates than hybrids or petrol cars. Even with the proposed increases, the benefit in kind rate of EVs will be 5x lower than that of the cheapest petrol car.

Furthermore, most petrol and diesel cars have an even higher rate. The latest generation self-charging Toyota Corolla hybrid, a car famed for being environmentally friendly, will be subject to a 27% BiK rate from April 2025. That’s in contrast to a fully electric car’s 3%.

Whilst road tax or VED on EVs is to be raised to the same level as petrol and diesel cars, the first-year tax bill will be significantly lower. All EVs will have to pay £10 for the first year, many petrol and diesel cars will pay 20x that.

Vans and other commercial vehicles benefit from slightly different company car tax rules, there are two use cases for petrol or diesel vans:

Are Electric Vans Exempt From Company Car Tax?

Yes, all company-supplied electric vans and commercial vehicles (this includes certain pickup trucks, too) are exempt from company car tax, regardless of the amount of personal usage.

Zero-Percent Interest Repairs With Bumper

Regardless of whether you drive an EV, a company car or a van, you can benefit from zero-interest financing on car repairs from Bumper. Choose from one of many 

Are Electric Cars Good For Company Car Tax?

Like everything we buy, cars are subject to various forms of taxation. 

In this article, I’ll go over the different taxes you should expect to pay when buying a car, and how they are set to differ with the upcoming April 2025 budget changes. I’ve also included some examples of different cars, so you can estimate exactly how much tax you can expect to pay before and after April 2025.

It can be confusing to get your head around each and every tax you may have to pay, so before we start, here’s a summary of them:

There are two main types of tax applied to new cars, VAT and VED. The former is the same Value Added Tax we pay on most items, from tyres to bread. The current rate of VAT is 20%, and is applied to all new cars the same. 

VED, also known as Road Tax, is the charge you pay to drive your car on the public road. 

On cars from 2001 to 2017, this is charged depending on the vehicle's emission levels, with the least polluting cars paying the least. 

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