Road Tax Calculator UK 2026
Calculate your exact Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) based on the latest DVLA rates.
How does the road tax calculator work?
UK road tax runs on three completely different rate systems depending on when your car was first registered, so the calculator first works out which system applies from your registration year, then asks only for the details that system actually needs — engine size for the oldest cars, CO2 emissions for cars registered 2001–2017, or CO2 plus list price for cars registered from April 2017 onwards.
Selecting a registration year automatically shows or hides the relevant fields below, so you're never asked for information that doesn't apply to your car's system.
3 worked examples
Example 1 — Standard petrol car, registered 2022
A mainstream petrol car registered in the flat-rate era, past its first year, no expensive car supplement.
Post-April 2017 flat rate
Rate:Standard annual rate = £195/year · 6-month payment ≈ £107 · monthly Direct Debit ≈ £17/month
5-year cost:£195 × 5 = £975
Example 2 — Diesel car registered 2013, CO2-band system
A diesel car registered under the 2001–2017 CO2-band system, emitting 142g/km.
2001–2017 CO2 bands
Band:142g/km falls in the 141–150 g/km band = £210/year
5-year cost:£210 × 5 = £1,050 — no first-year variation and no expensive car supplement under this system
Example 3 — New premium EV, first year, over £40,000
A new electric car registered this year with an original list price over £40,000 — the scenario most likely to surprise a first-time EV buyer.
Post-April 2017 flat rate, zero-emission first-year rate applies
Year 1:£10 (zero-emission first-year rate — the supplement does not apply in year 1)
Years 2–6:£195 standard + £410 expensive car supplement = £605/year
5-year cost:£10 + (£605 × 4) = £2,430 — dramatically more than the £975 in Example 1, purely from crossing the £40,000 threshold
The £40,000 threshold is based on the original list price, not what you actually paid — a car discounted below £40k still counts if its list price was above it. Check your original invoice or the manufacturer's list price at first registration, not a used-market resale price.
VED rate tables by system
Cars registered before 1 March 2001 (engine size)
| Engine size | Annual VED (2026) |
|---|---|
| Up to 1549cc | £180 |
| Over 1549cc | £295 |
Cars registered March 2001 – March 2017 (CO2 bands)
| 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 |
Cars registered from 1 April 2017 (flat rate + first-year)
Standard rate from year 2 onwards is £195/year for all fuel types. First-year rates are CO2-linked:
| CO2 emissions | First-year 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 |
The expensive car supplement — what is it and who pays it?
If your car's original list price (including options and delivery charges, but excluding registration) was over £40,000, you pay an additional £410 per year on top of the standard rate. This applies for years 2 through 6 of the car's life (5 years total). It applies to all fuel types including EVs from April 2025. After 6 years from first registration, the supplement ends and you pay the standard rate only.
Why are electric cars now charged road tax?
From 1 April 2025, electric vehicles (EVs) are no longer exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty. The government cited the need to maintain roads funding as EV uptake reduced revenue from fuel duty. EVs now pay the standard rate of £195/year from the second year of registration, and a first-year rate of £10 for zero-emission vehicles. The expensive car supplement (£410/year for years 2–6) applies to EVs with an original list price over £40,000 — see our full UK Road Tax Explained 2026 guide for more detail.
What this calculator can't tell you
Rates change with each Budget
VED rates are set annually and can change at each Spring Budget. This calculator uses confirmed April 2026 rates, but always cross-check against the current GOV.UK rate tables before making a payment, particularly if you're reading this some months after publication.
Your car's exact CO2 figure
The calculator needs your car's official CO2 figure, which you have to look up yourself — it's on your V5C logbook, or via the DVLA vehicle information service using your registration number.
Whether your specific car qualifies for any exemption
Certain vehicles are fully exempt from VED regardless of the tables above — for example, some historic vehicles (built more than 40 years ago) and vehicles used by a disabled person under specific criteria. This calculator doesn't check exemption eligibility; check GOV.UK's exemption criteria if you think you might qualify.
Common calculation mistakes
Using resale price instead of original list price for the £40k check
The expensive car supplement is based on the car's price when new, not its current used-market value. A car now worth £25,000 used still pays the supplement if its original list price when new was over £40,000.
Assuming the first-year rate continues every year
The CO2-linked first-year rate for post-2017 cars only applies in year 1. From year 2 onwards, every car pays the same £195 standard rate (plus supplement if applicable) regardless of its CO2 figure — a common source of confusion for people comparing quotes for different cars.
Forgetting the supplement has a 6-year limit
The expensive car supplement stops after year 6 of registration, not indefinitely. A 7-year-old car with an original £45,000 list price pays only the standard £195 rate, not £605.
Mixing up NEDC and WLTP CO2 figures
Cars registered before April 2020 were tested under the older NEDC standard; newer cars use WLTP, which tends to report higher CO2 figures for the same car. Use the figure that was actually used at your car's registration (shown on your V5C), not a figure from a different testing standard.
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 11-digit reference from your V5C logbook or renewal letter. Payment options include annual (cheapest), 6-monthly (10% surcharge), or monthly Direct Debit (5% surcharge annually). Road tax runs in monthly increments — you cannot get a partial-month refund if you sell mid-month.
You do not need to display a tax disc — the system is entirely electronic and checked by ANPR cameras. The DVLA sends a reminder (V11 form) approximately 4 weeks before your existing tax expires.
How we calculate
Pre-2001 system: Annual rate = £180 (up to 1549cc) or £295 (over 1549cc), based purely on engine size.
2001–2017 system: Annual rate = looked up directly from the CO2 band table, based on your entered CO2 figure.
2017+ system: Standard annual rate = £195 (all fuel types) from year 2 onwards. First-year rate = looked up from the first-year CO2 table (or £10 flat for electric). Expensive car supplement = +£410/year, added to the standard rate for years 2–6 only, if the original list price exceeded £40,000.
6-month payment = (annual rate ÷ 2) × 1.10. Monthly Direct Debit = (annual rate × 1.05) ÷ 12. 5-year total = first-year rate (if applicable) plus 4 years of standard rate, or 5 years of standard rate if not in year 1.
Frequently asked questions
How much is road tax in the UK in 2026?
For most cars registered after April 2017, the standard flat-rate VED is £195 per year. Cars registered between March 2001 and March 2017 pay based on CO2 emissions, from £0 to £695. Cars registered before March 2001 pay based on engine size: £180 or £295.
Do electric cars pay road tax in 2026?
Yes. From April 2025, electric cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 pay the standard £195/year VED. New EVs pay a £10 first-year rate. EVs with a list price over £40,000 also pay the £410 expensive car supplement on top, for a combined £605/year in years 2–6.
What is the expensive car supplement?
An additional £410 per year on top of the standard rate, for any car (any fuel type) with an original list price over £40,000. It applies for years 2 through 6 of registration only, then stops.
How do I find my car's CO2 emissions figure?
Check your V5C registration certificate (logbook), or look up your registration number via the DVLA's free 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 — road tax is refunded for any full remaining months when you sell, scrap, or export your vehicle, or declare it off the road (SORN). Refunds are automatic once the DVLA is notified of the change of keeper, but only for whole months, not partial months.
References & data sources
- GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rate tables. The official current VED rates for all three registration-date systems, used directly for the calculator's rate tables.
- GOV.UK — Tax your vehicle. Official payment process, options, and reference number requirements.
- DVLA — Check vehicle tax. Official service for checking a specific vehicle's current tax status by registration plate.
- DVSA / DVLA — Vehicle Excise Duty enforcement guidance. Refund rules, ANPR enforcement, and SORN process referenced in the "how to pay" section.
VED rates are confirmed annually and can change at each government Budget. Figures here reflect confirmed April 2026 rates — always verify against GOV.UK's current rate tables before making a payment.