Van Road Tax (VED) Calculator
Find your exact van VED rate — light goods vehicles follow a different system to cars, and this covers vans up to 3,500kg.
How does the van road tax calculator work?
Vans (technically "Light Goods Vehicles," up to 3,500kg gross vehicle weight) are taxed under a completely different system to cars — there's no CO2-based banding like the post-2017 car system. Instead, most vans pay a single flat annual rate, with a lower rate available for a specific window of Euro 4 and Euro 5 compliant vans, and a separate engine-size-based system for vans registered before March 2001.
3 worked examples
Example 1 — Typical modern diesel van
A diesel van first registered in June 2019.
Standard flat rate applies — £345/year
Example 2 — Euro 5 compliant van
A van first registered in March 2010, certified Euro 5 compliant.
Reduced rate applies — £140/year, a saving of £205 compared to the standard rate
Example 3 — Older van, pre-March 2001
A van first registered in 1998, with a 1800cc engine.
Higher pre-2001 engine-size band applies — £360/year
Example 2 shows a genuinely worthwhile saving that many van owners miss simply because they don't know their vehicle falls within the Euro 4/5 window — check your V5C logbook or the DVLA vehicle enquiry service if your van was registered in those specific date ranges.
Van VED rates, 2026
| Category | Annual VED |
|---|---|
| Standard rate (registered 1 Mar 2001 onward, not Euro 4/5 incentivised) | £345 |
| Euro 4 compliant (registered 1 Mar 2003 – 31 Dec 2006) | £140 |
| Euro 5 compliant (registered 1 Jan 2009 – 31 Dec 2010) | £140 |
| Pre-2001, engine up to 1549cc | £220 |
| Pre-2001, engine over 1549cc | £360 |
| Electric van | £345 (standard rate — see note below) |
Why vans are taxed differently to cars
Cars registered from April 2017 use a CO2-based first-year rate followed by a flat standard rate, as covered in our car Road Tax Calculator. Vans never adopted this CO2-graduated system — Light Goods Vehicle VED has stayed structurally simpler, built around a single standard flat rate with the Euro 4/5 incentive as the main historical exception, rather than emissions-banded tiers.
Electric vans and the April 2025 change
Electric vans previously paid no VED at all. Following the same policy change that ended the car EV exemption, electric vans now pay VED too, at the standard rate, since April 2025. If you're budgeting for an electric van's running costs and still assuming zero road tax, that assumption is now out of date.
This mirrors the change to car VED covered in our UK Road Tax Explained guide — if you're comparing electric vs diesel van running costs, make sure you're using current, post-April-2025 figures.
What this calculator can't tell you
Whether your van exceeds 3,500kg
This calculator covers standard Light Goods Vehicles up to 3,500kg gross vehicle weight. Larger commercial vehicles (some Ford Transit and similar variants in heavier configurations) fall under a different tax system entirely — check your V5C for the exact classification.
Dual-purpose vehicle classification
Some vehicles sit ambiguously between "van" and "car" classification (certain pickup trucks and crew-cab vans, for example) and may be taxed under different rules depending on specific body type and payload capacity. Check your V5C's exact vehicle tax class if you're unsure.
Whether your van genuinely qualifies for the Euro 4/5 rate
Being registered within the date window isn't automatically sufficient — the vehicle must be certified as meeting the specific emissions standard. This calculator takes your self-declared answer; verify against your V5C or the DVLA vehicle enquiry service before assuming eligibility.
Common mistakes
Assuming van VED works like car VED
Cars use a CO2-based system with a variable first-year rate; vans generally don't. Applying car VED logic to a van will give the wrong answer.
Missing the Euro 4/5 discount
As shown in Example 2, this is a genuine and often-missed saving for vans registered in the specific eligible windows — worth checking rather than assuming the standard rate automatically applies.
Assuming electric vans are still exempt
As covered above, this exemption ended in April 2025, matching the change already made to car VED.
Not checking gross vehicle weight before assuming standard van rules apply
Heavier commercial vehicles fall outside the standard Light Goods Vehicle system this calculator covers.
How to check and pay
- Check your exact classification and current tax status via the free DVLA vehicle enquiry service
- Tax your van online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax, using your V5C reference or V11 reminder
- Verify Euro 4/5 compliance on your V5C logbook if your van falls within the relevant registration window, rather than assuming eligibility
- Keep an eye on renewal dates — the DVLA sends a reminder (V11) approximately 4 weeks before expiry, similar to car VED
🚗 Comparing against a car instead?
See how car VED rates and rules differ from the van system covered here.
Use the Car Road Tax Calculator →How we calculate
If registered before 1 March 2001: rate is £220 (engine ≤1549cc) or £360 (engine over 1549cc).
If registered on/after 1 March 2001: rate is £140 if the registration date falls within the Euro 4 window (1 Mar 2003–31 Dec 2006) or Euro 5 window (1 Jan 2009–31 Dec 2010) and compliance is confirmed; otherwise the standard rate of £345 applies.
Electric vans: £345 standard rate, reflecting the April 2025 policy change ending the previous exemption.
Frequently asked questions
How much is road tax for a van in the UK?
Most vans pay a standard flat rate of £345 per year. Vans certified Euro 4 or Euro 5 compliant and registered within specific windows (2003–2006 for Euro 4, 2009–2010 for Euro 5) pay a reduced £140 per year.
Do electric vans pay road tax?
Yes, since April 2025. Electric vans previously paid no VED, but now pay the standard rate, mirroring the same change made to car VED for electric vehicles.
Is van road tax the same as car road tax?
No. Vans use a simpler, mostly flat-rate system, while cars registered from April 2017 use a CO2-based system with a variable first-year rate. The two systems are structurally different.
What counts as a "van" for VED purposes?
Generally, a Light Goods Vehicle up to 3,500kg gross vehicle weight. Heavier commercial vehicles fall under a different tax system, and some dual-purpose vehicles may be classified differently — check your V5C for the exact tax class.
How do I know if my van qualifies for the Euro 4/5 discount?
Check your V5C logbook for the emissions certification, or use the DVLA vehicle enquiry service. Being registered within the relevant date window isn't automatically sufficient — the vehicle must be certified as meeting the specific standard.
References & data sources
- GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rate tables. Official Light Goods Vehicle (van) VED rates, including the Euro 4/5 incentive scheme.
- DVLA — Vehicle enquiry service. The official service for checking a specific vehicle's tax class, emissions certification, and current tax status.
Van VED rates are reviewed periodically by the DVLA. This calculator covers standard Light Goods Vehicles up to 3,500kg gross vehicle weight — always verify your exact rate via GOV.UK before paying.