How the car tax calculator works
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), still often called road tax, depends on when your car was first registered. There are three systems, and the calculator picks the right one from the registration date on your V5C logbook:
- Registered before 1 March 2001: taxed on engine size.
- Registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017: taxed on CO2 emissions, in bands A to M, every year.
- Registered on or after 1 April 2017: a one-off first-year rate based on CO2, then a flat standard rate, plus a supplement for cars with a list price over £40,000.
All figures are the DVLA rates in force from 1 April 2026. Paying by 12 monthly Direct Debits adds 5%, so a £200 bill becomes 12 payments of £17.50.
Cars registered from 1 April 2017
The first-year rate is included in the price of a new car. After that, petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars all pay the same standard rate of £200 a year.
| CO2 (g/km) | First year: petrol, hybrid, electric, RDE2 diesel | First year: other diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | £10 | £10 |
| 1 to 50 | £115 | £135 |
| 51 to 75 | £135 | £280 |
| 76 to 90 | £280 | £365 |
| 91 to 100 | £365 | £405 |
| 101 to 110 | £405 | £455 |
| 111 to 130 | £455 | £560 |
| 131 to 150 | £560 | £1,410 |
| 151 to 170 | £1,410 | £2,270 |
| 171 to 190 | £2,270 | £3,420 |
| 191 to 225 | £3,420 | £4,850 |
| 226 to 255 | £4,850 | £5,690 |
| Over 255 | £5,690 | £5,690 |
The expensive car supplement
If the list price was over £40,000, you pay an extra £440 a year for five years, starting from the second time the car is taxed. That takes the yearly bill to £640. The list price is the published price including options and VAT, not what you paid after a discount, and it's the price when new that counts, so a used car bought for £20,000 still pays it if it cost over £40,000 new. For electric cars registered from 1 April 2025, the threshold is £50,000.
Cars registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017
| Band | CO2 (g/km) | 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 | £20 |
| B | 101 to 110 | £20 |
| C | 111 to 120 | £35 |
| D | 121 to 130 | £170 |
| E | 131 to 140 | £200 |
| F | 141 to 150 | £225 |
| G | 151 to 165 | £275 |
| H | 166 to 175 | £325 |
| I | 176 to 185 | £360 |
| J | 186 to 200 | £410 |
| K | 201 to 225 | £445 |
| L | 226 to 255 | £760 |
| M | Over 255 | £790 |
Cars over 225 g/km registered before 23 March 2006 stay in band K at £445. These bands apply to every fuel type, so an electric car from this period pays £20.
Cars registered before 1 March 2001 pay £230 with an engine up to 1549cc, or £375 above that. Cars built before 1 January 1986 can switch to the historic vehicle class and pay nothing.
Do electric cars pay car tax?
Yes, since 1 April 2025. A new electric car pays £10 in the first year, then £200 a year. An electric car registered between April 2017 and March 2025 pays £200 a year but never pays the supplement. One registered from April 2025 with a list price over £50,000 pays £640 a year in years 2 to 6.
Worked examples
- 2023 petrol hatchback, 125 g/km, £32,000: first-year rate was in the 111 to 130 band, now £455. Today it pays the standard £200.
- Same car with a £45,000 list price: £200 + £440 = £640 a year until 31 August 2029, then £200.
- 2015 diesel, 125 g/km: band D, £170 a year.
- 2010 petrol, 160 g/km: band G, £275.
- 1999 car with a 1.8-litre engine: £375.
Tips
- A newer car isn't always cheaper to tax. A low-emission car from 2016 in band A or B pays £20, while the same model registered in 2018 pays £200.
- Check the list price before buying a nearly new premium car, as the supplement can add £2,200 over five years.
- Running costs add up quickly. Work out what you spend on fuel with the fuel cost calculator, see monthly payments with the car finance calculator, or check the tax on a work car with the company car tax calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much is car tax in 2026?
From 1 April 2026 the standard rate for cars registered since April 2017 is £200 a year, or £640 if the list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars registered from April 2025). Older cars pay between £20 and £790 depending on their CO2 band.
How much is road tax on an electric car?
Electric cars pay £10 in the first year, then £200 a year from the second year. Electric cars registered from 1 April 2025 with a list price over £50,000 pay £640 a year for years 2 to 6.
What is the expensive car supplement?
It's an extra £440 a year on top of the £200 standard rate, for cars with a list price over £40,000. It's charged for five years starting from the second time the car is taxed.
Is car tax cheaper by Direct Debit?
No. Paying in one go or with a single annual Direct Debit costs the same, while 12 monthly Direct Debits add 5%, so £200 becomes £210.
Do I pay car tax on a car over 40 years old?
Cars built before 1 January 1986 can be taxed in the historic vehicle class from 1 April 2026 and pay nothing, but you have to apply to change the tax class.
Last reviewed October 2026 using 2026/27 figures. This calculator gives an estimate for guidance only.