From April, Brits will see a string of law changes comes into effect.

There are changes in car tax rates for drivers, as well as a huge shuffle in benefits, and a national pay rise.

We've rounded up some of the law changes which will come into force from April.

New car tax rates

From April 1, the way car tax is calculated will change - and for the first time - it will be based on CO2 emissions.

According to gov.uk, for the first year drivers will pay a rate based on the car's CO2 emissions, from the time it was registered.

The change doesn’t affect any vehicle registered before 1 April 2017.

After the first year, the amount of tax that needs to be paid depends on the type of vehicle. The rates are:

  • £140 a year for petrol or diesel vehicles
  • £130 a year for alternative fuel vehicles (hybrids, bioethanol and LPG)
  • £0 a year for vehicles with zero CO2 emissions

Autoexpress.co.uk says: "If you're buying a new car, then you will pay road tax based on the current system that was introduced on 1 April 2017.

"First-year road tax is based on emissions, while there's a flat rate of road tax for subsequent years. The first-year rate is included in a new car's on-the-road price, and is of more concern to the manufacturer than the buyer. However, the second-year rate is what you'll pay after 12 months of owning the car.

"This rate varies depending on whether your vehicle is electric, powered by a combustion engine (petrol or diesel) or uses an alternative fuel source (plug-in hybrid, LPG, etc)."

Gender pay gap reveal

By April 4, private and public bodies must publish the difference between what their male and female employers earn.

Many business have already published theirs, ahead of the deadline.

All companies with more than 250 members of staff must publish the difference between the median hourly pay rate of men and women.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has said it will begin enforcement action on April 9, for businesses which fail to comply. This could lead to legal action and an "unlimited fine" set by the courts.

Speaking to the BBC, Rebecca Hilsenrath, chief executive of the EHRC, said: "The clock is ticking and with just 10 days to go, those who haven't reported really are entering the last chance saloon."

National pay rise

Employees can expect a pay rise in April, as the government begins to implement the recommended increases in the National Living Wage.

For people aged 25, and over, the rate will increase from £7.50 to £7.83. Workers aged between 21-24 will see pay rise from £7.05 to £7.38.

Wages will also rise from £5.60 to £5.90 for 18-20 year olds, from £4.05 to £4.20 for 16-17 year olds and from £3.50 to £3.70 for apprentices under the age of 19 - or for those in their first year.

Lower heating bills for renters

From April 1, all privately owned properties must have a minimum energy performance rating of 'E'. It means landlords must make improvements to homes - by upgrading insulation or heating systems for example - as this will make them cheaper to heat.

The government has said it will be unlawful to rent out a property which breaches this minimum rating, and a civil penalty of £4,000 will be imposed for landlords who let their homes fall below the minimum standard.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a monthly payment that will replace Jobseeker's Allowance and other work-related benefits. It will replace the following six benefits:

  • Child Tax Credit
  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Working Tax Credit

If you currently receive any of these benefits, you can’t claim Universal Credit at the same time, according to gov.co.uk

You don’t need to do anything until you hear from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about moving - unless you have a change in circumstances.

Drone safety test requirement

Drone users will be required to sit a safety awareness test, if it weighs more than 250g.

Furthermore, the police will also be given new powers to seize and ground drones, where necessary. It could also include a ban on drones flying near airports.