We study the relationship between higher Du Bois singularities and K-regularity, a notion that measures the
$\mathbb A^1$-invariance of the algebraic K-groups. Building on this relationship, we establish a strengthened form of Vorst’s conjecture for local complete intersections in characteristic zero. Our work also provides tools to construct new examples that illustrate various phenomena in the study of K-regularity. The main inputs for our results are vanishing theorems for the Du Bois complexes.