Key takeaways
- UK road tax (VED) is calculated using three different systems depending on when your car was registered
- Cars registered after April 2017 pay a flat rate of £195/year (from year 2 onwards)
- From April 2025, electric cars now pay road tax — the zero-rate exemption has ended
- Cars with a list price over £40,000 pay an extra £620 luxury supplement in years 2–6
- Driving without road tax risks a £80 fixed penalty, clamping, or a court fine of up to £1,000
Vehicle Excise Duty — better known as road tax or car tax — is one of the mandatory costs of keeping a car on UK roads. It is not optional, and the DVLA actively enforces it using ANPR cameras across the UK road network.
The system is more complicated than most drivers realise, because there are three completely different rate regimes depending on when your car was registered. This guide explains all three, covers what changed in April 2025, and tells you exactly how to check, pay, and avoid penalties.
The three VED systems in the UK
System 1: Cars registered before 1 March 2001 (engine size-based)
Older cars pay road tax based purely on engine size, regardless of their actual emissions.
| Engine size | Annual VED (2026) | 6-month rate |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1549cc | £180 | £99 |
| Over 1549cc | £295 | £162.25 |
System 2: Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 (CO2-based)
Cars from this era are taxed on their official CO2 emissions figure. Rates vary significantly — from £0 for the cleanest cars to £695 for the most polluting.
| CO2 emissions | Annual VED (2026) |
|---|---|
| Up to 100 g/km | £0 |
| 101–110 g/km | £20 |
| 111–120 g/km | £35 |
| 121–130 g/km | £160 |
| 131–140 g/km | £190 |
| 141–150 g/km | £210 |
| 151–165 g/km | £255 |
| 166–175 g/km | £295 |
| 176–185 g/km | £335 |
| 186–200 g/km | £385 |
| 201–225 g/km | £445 |
| 226–255 g/km | £610 |
| Over 255 g/km | £695 |
The CO2 figure used is the manufacturer's official NEDC value at the time of registration — not a modern WLTP test. You can find your car's official CO2 figure on the V5C registration document or via the GOV.UK vehicle enquiry service.
System 3: Cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 (flat rate)
From April 2017, the government introduced a simplified flat-rate system. Most cars pay a fixed annual amount from year 2 onwards, with a variable first-year rate based on CO2 emissions.
First-year rates for new cars (registered April 2017 onwards)
In the first year of registration, new petrol and diesel cars pay a higher, CO2-linked first-year rate. This is paid by the dealer as part of the purchase process for new cars.
| CO2 emissions | First-year VED rate |
|---|---|
| 0 g/km (zero emission) | £10 |
| 1–50 g/km | £110 |
| 51–75 g/km | £130 |
| 76–90 g/km | £170 |
| 91–100 g/km | £190 |
| 101–110 g/km | £210 |
| 111–130 g/km | £240 |
| 131–150 g/km | £435 |
| 151–170 g/km | £660 |
| 171–190 g/km | £995 |
| 191–225 g/km | £1,420 |
| 226–255 g/km | £2,015 |
| Over 255 g/km | £2,745 |
April 2025 changes: electric cars now pay road tax
The most significant recent change to UK VED is the removal of the zero-rate exemption for electric vehicles, which took effect on 1 April 2025.
| EV registration date | VED from April 2025 |
|---|---|
| New EVs registered from 1 April 2025 (first year) | £10 |
| EVs registered from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2025 (standard rate) | £195/year |
| EVs registered before 1 April 2017 (CO2-based) | Usually £0 (zero emission) |
| Any EV with original list price over £40,000 (years 2–6) | £195 + £620 = £815/year |
Luxury EV surcharge: Many popular electric cars exceed the £40,000 list price threshold — including the Tesla Model 3, BMW i4, Audi Q4 e-tron, and Kia EV6. Owners of these vehicles now pay £815 per year in road tax from year 2–6 of registration. This significantly affects the EV running cost advantage over petrol.
How to pay your road tax
Road tax can be renewed online, by phone, or at a Post Office. The DVLA sends a reminder (V11 form) approximately 4 weeks before your existing tax expires.
- Online: via the GOV.UK vehicle tax service at gov.uk/vehicle-tax — requires your V5C reference number or V11 reminder
- By phone: 0300 123 4321 (24/7 automated service)
- At a Post Office: any branch offering DVLA services — requires V5C or V11 plus valid MOT certificate and insurance details
You can pay annually or in 6-monthly instalments. Monthly Direct Debit is also available, but costs slightly more than annual payment (approximately 5% more over the year).
How to check if a car is taxed
You can check whether any UK vehicle is taxed using the free DVLA vehicle enquiry service at vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk. Enter the registration number to see the tax status, MOT expiry date, and basic vehicle details.
Buying a used car? Always check the tax and MOT status before purchase. Road tax does not transfer with the vehicle — when you buy a used car, the previous owner's tax ends immediately and you must tax the car before driving it. The previous owner receives a pro-rata refund of any unused full months.
What happens if you don't pay road tax?
The DVLA enforces road tax through ANPR cameras, which automatically log untaxed vehicles on public roads. The consequences of driving without tax are serious:
- Fixed Penalty Notice: £80 (reduced to £40 if paid within 28 days)
- Clamping: DVLA enforcement agents can clamp your car — a release fee of £100 applies on top of the outstanding tax
- Towing: if a clamped vehicle is not released within 24 hours, it can be towed to a DVLA pound — impound fees apply on top
- Court prosecution: in serious or repeat cases, a fine of up to £1,000 can be imposed by a magistrate's court
Parked cars are not exempt: Your car can be clamped even if it is parked on a public road and not being driven. The only exception is a car kept entirely on private land and declared off the road via a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) with the DVLA.
🏷️ Find your exact road tax rate
Enter your car's registration year and CO2 figure to calculate your exact 2026 VED rate — including 6-month and monthly Direct Debit options.
Use the Road Tax Calculator →Frequently asked questions
Also useful
Sources
- GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rate tables (VED rates 2026)
- GOV.UK — Tax your vehicle
- GOV.UK — DVLA vehicle enquiry service
- DVLA — DVLA enforcement and untaxed vehicle penalties