Road Tax Calculator UK 2026
Estimate your Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) using the current GOV.UK rates for 2026/27.
How does the road tax calculator work?
UK road tax runs on three different rate systems, depending on when the car was first registered. The calculator works out which system applies from the registration date you choose, then asks only for the details that system needs: engine size for cars registered before March 2001, CO2 emissions for cars registered from March 2001 to March 2017, and fuel type, list price and whether it is the first payment for cars registered from April 2017.
Selecting a registration date shows or hides the relevant fields, so you're not asked for information that doesn't apply.
3 worked examples
These examples were run through this calculator's own formula, so the numbers match what the tool gives.
Example 1 — Standard petrol car, registered 2022
A mainstream petrol car registered in the flat-rate era, past its first year, with a list price under £40,000.
From April 2017, flat rate
Rate:Standard annual rate = £200/year · 6-month payment = £110 · monthly Direct Debit = £17.50/month (£210 in total)
5-year cost:£200 × 5 = £1,000
Example 2 — Diesel car registered 2013, CO2-band system
A diesel car registered under the March 2001 – March 2017 CO2-band system, emitting 142g/km.
March 2001 – March 2017, CO2 bands
Band:142g/km falls in Band F (141–150 g/km) = £225/year
5-year cost:£225 × 5 = £1,125. This system has no first-year rate and no expensive car supplement.
Example 3 — New EV priced £45,000: the higher EV threshold matters
A new electric car registered after 1 April 2026 with a £45,000 original list price.
£45,000 is under the threshold, so no supplement applies. First payment: £10. Then £200/year.
5-year cost:£10 + (£200 × 4) = £810
If the £40,000 threshold applied instead:The same car would pay £10 + (£640 × 4) = £2,570 over 5 years, which is £1,760 more.
The threshold is based on the original list price, not what you paid. A car sold at a discount still counts if its list price was above the threshold. The threshold also depends on fuel type: £40,000 for petrol and diesel, £50,000 for electric. An EV priced between £40,000 and £50,000 doesn't pay the supplement, while an identically priced petrol or diesel car does.
VED rate tables by system
These are the GOV.UK rates for 2026/27, as compared on 15 October 2026.
Cars registered before 1 March 2001 (engine size)
| Engine size | 12 months | 6 months | 12 monthly Direct Debits (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1549cc or less | £230 | £126.50 | £241.50 |
| Over 1549cc | £375 | £206.25 | £393.75 |
Cars registered 1 March 2001 – 31 March 2017 (CO2 bands)
| Band | CO2 emissions | 12 months | 6 months | 12 monthly Direct Debits (total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 g/km | £20 | N/A | £21 |
| B | 101–110 g/km | £20 | N/A | £21 |
| C | 111–120 g/km | £35 | N/A | £36.75 |
| D | 121–130 g/km | £170 | £93.50 | £178.50 |
| E | 131–140 g/km | £200 | £110 | £210 |
| F | 141–150 g/km | £225 | £123.75 | £236.25 |
| G | 151–165 g/km | £275 | £151.25 | £288.75 |
| H | 166–175 g/km | £325 | £178.75 | £341.25 |
| I | 176–185 g/km | £360 | £198 | £378 |
| J | 186–200 g/km | £410 | £225.50 | £430.50 |
| K* | 201–225 g/km | £445 | £244.75 | £467.25 |
| L | 226–255 g/km | £760 | £418 | £798 |
| M | Over 255 g/km | £790 | £434.50 | £829.50 |
*Band K also includes cars over 225 g/km that were registered before 23 March 2006.
Cars registered from 1 April 2017 (first payment, then flat rate)
The standard rate from the second payment onwards is £200 a year for petrol, diesel, electric and alternative fuel cars. The first payment depends on CO2 emissions:
| CO2 emissions | Petrol, alternative fuel, zero emission, RDE2 diesel | Other diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 0 g/km | £10 | £10 |
| 1–50 g/km | £115 | £135 |
| 51–75 g/km | £135 | £280 |
| 76–90 g/km | £280 | £365 |
| 91–100 g/km | £365 | £405 |
| 101–110 g/km | £405 | £455 |
| 111–130 g/km | £455 | £560 |
| 131–150 g/km | £560 | £1,410 |
| 151–170 g/km | £1,410 | £2,270 |
| 171–190 g/km | £2,270 | £3,420 |
| 191–225 g/km | £3,420 | £4,850 |
| 226–255 g/km | £4,850 | £5,690 |
| Over 255 g/km | £5,690 | £5,690 |
The expensive car supplement — what is it and who pays it?
If a car's list price was over the threshold for its fuel type, you pay an extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate. According to GOV.UK, it applies for 5 years, counted from the second time the vehicle is taxed. With the supplement the standard rate is £640 a year, £352 for 6 months, or £672 across 12 monthly Direct Debits.
GOV.UK describes the list price as the published price before the first registration, before any discounts.
The threshold isn't the same for every fuel type. The supplement applies above £40,000 for petrol and diesel cars, and above £50,000 for electric cars. Zero-emission cars registered before 1 April 2025 are exempt from the supplement.
Do electric cars pay road tax?
Yes, for cars registered on or after 1 April 2025. Zero-emission cars used to be exempt from the first payment's CO2 charge and the standard rate, but from 1 April 2025 electric cars pay the £10 first payment and then the £200 standard rate. EVs with a list price over £50,000 also pay the £440 expensive car supplement. See our UK Road Tax Explained guide for more detail.
What this calculator can't tell you
Rates change
VED rates are set by the government and can change. This calculator uses the GOV.UK rates for 2026/27, but cross-check them against the current GOV.UK rate tables before paying, especially if you're reading this some months after the update date.
Your car's exact CO2 figure
You need your car's official CO2 figure. It is on your V5C logbook, or you can look the vehicle up on GOV.UK's vehicle information service.
Whether your car qualifies for an exemption
Some vehicles are exempt from VED, for example some historic vehicles and vehicles used by disabled people under specific criteria. This calculator doesn't check eligibility. See GOV.UK's exemption criteria.
Rules that apply to your individual car
The calculator uses the registration date range, fuel type and list price you enter. Details such as a vehicle's exact tax class, the exact registration date near a threshold, or other special rules can change the rate. The GOV.UK vehicle tax checker uses the registration number and is the more reliable source for a specific car.
Common calculation mistakes
Assuming electric cars use the same £40,000 threshold as other cars
Electric cars have their own £50,000 threshold for the expensive car supplement, £10,000 higher than the £40,000 that applies to petrol and diesel cars.
Using the resale price instead of the original list price
The supplement is based on the price when new, not the car's current value. A car now worth far less used still pays the supplement if its original list price was over the threshold.
Assuming the first-year rate continues every year
The CO2-linked first payment for cars registered from April 2017 only applies once. From the second payment on, every car pays the same £200 standard rate, plus the supplement if it applies.
Forgetting the supplement has a time limit
The supplement applies for 5 years, counted from the second time the vehicle is taxed. After that the car pays the standard rate only.
Using the wrong CO2 figure
Use the CO2 figure shown on your V5C or the GOV.UK vehicle checker for your car, not a figure from a brochure or another source.
Missing the diesel difference on a new car
Diesel cars that don't meet the RDE2 standard pay higher first-year rates than petrol cars and RDE2-compliant diesels. From the second payment the rate is the same.
How to pay your road tax — options and deadlines
You can tax your vehicle online at GOV.UK/vehicle-tax using your vehicle registration number and the reference number from your V5C logbook or reminder letter. For cars on the standard rate, a single 12-month payment is the cheapest option. Paying for 6 months costs 10% more than half the annual rate, and 12 monthly Direct Debits cost 5% more than the annual rate in total.
You don't need to display a tax disc. Tax status is checked electronically against the DVLA record, so make sure your vehicle is taxed before the old tax runs out.
How we calculate
Before March 2001: annual rate = £230 (1549cc or less) or £375 (over 1549cc), based on engine size.
March 2001 – March 2017: annual rate = looked up from the CO2 band table (the same for all fuel types). Electric cars are treated as 0 g/km, which is Band A. Cars over 225 g/km registered before 23 March 2006 are in Band K.
From April 2017: standard rate = £200 for all fuel types from the second payment. First payment = looked up from the first-year table (£10 for electric), using the diesel column for diesel cars that don't meet RDE2. The £440 supplement is added to the standard rate if the list price is over £40,000 (petrol, diesel, hybrid, alternative fuel) or over £50,000 (electric, registered from 1 April 2025).
6-month payment = (annual rate ÷ 2) × 1.10. Monthly Direct Debit = (annual rate × 1.05) ÷ 12. The 5-year cost is the first-year rate plus 4 years at the standard rate for a first payment, or 5 years at the standard rate otherwise.
Frequently asked questions
How much is road tax in the UK in 2026?
For cars registered from 1 April 2017, the standard rate from the second payment is £200 a year. Cars registered from March 2001 to March 2017 pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790. Cars registered before March 2001 pay by engine size, £230 or £375.
Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?
Yes, for cars registered from 1 April 2025. They pay a £10 first payment and then the £200 standard rate. EVs with a list price over £50,000 also pay the £440 expensive car supplement.
What is the expensive car supplement?
An extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate for cars with a list price over £40,000 (petrol and diesel) or £50,000 (electric). It applies for 5 years, counted from the second time the vehicle is taxed.
How do I find my car's CO2 emissions figure?
Check your V5C registration certificate (logbook), or look up the registration number on GOV.UK's vehicle information service at gov.uk/get-vehicle-information-from-dvla.
Can I get a refund if I sell my car mid-tax-year?
Yes. The DVLA refunds any full months left on the tax when you sell, scrap or export the vehicle, or declare it off the road (SORN). Refunds are for whole months only, and the DVLA handles them once it has been told about the change.
References & data sources
- GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rate tables. Rates for cars registered from 1 April 2017: first-year rates, standard rate and the expensive car supplement.
- GOV.UK — Cars registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017. CO2 band rates.
- GOV.UK — Cars and light goods vehicles registered before 1 March 2001. Engine size rates.
- GOV.UK — Check vehicle tax. Official service to check a specific vehicle's tax status.
VED rates can change. Figures here match GOV.UK's tables as compared on 15 October 2026. Check GOV.UK before making a payment.
Prakash
Prakash is the founder and editor of UK Driving Tools. He maintains the site's calculators and guides and checks the rates and rules they use against official UK sources, such as GOV.UK, the DVLA, HMRC and Transport for London, before publishing.
Pages are drafted with the help of AI tools and then checked by the editor. He isn't a lawyer, accountant or UK-qualified adviser, so every page lists its sources and states what its calculator can't tell you. Nothing on this site is legal or financial advice.
Pages on UK Driving Tools are drafted with the help of AI tools. Before publishing, the figures and rules on each page are checked against the official source named on the page, and calculator examples are tested against the working formula. Pages are updated when rates or rules change. Our Editorial Policy explains the full process, including how to report a mistake.
Spotted a mistake or an out-of-date rate? Let us know and we'll check it against the official source.