Van Road Tax (VED) Calculator
Find your van's VED rate. Vans up to 3,500kg revenue weight follow a different system to cars.
How does the van road tax calculator work?
Vans (light goods vehicles, up to 3,500kg revenue weight) are taxed under a different system to cars. There is no CO2-based banding like the post-2017 car system. Most vans pay a single flat annual rate. A lower rate applies to vans that are Euro 4 compliant and were registered between 1 March 2003 and 31 December 2006, or Euro 5 compliant and registered between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2010. Vans registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size.
3 worked examples
Example 1 — Typical modern diesel van
A diesel van first registered in June 2019.
The standard rate applies: £360 for 12 months. Paying by 12 monthly Direct Debit instalments totals £378.
Example 2 — Euro 5 compliant van
A van first registered in March 2010 and confirmed Euro 5 compliant.
The reduced rate applies: £140 for 12 months, which is £220 less than the standard rate.
Example 3 — Older van, registered before March 2001
A van first registered in 1998 with an 1800cc engine.
The engine-size rate applies: £375 for 12 months. With an engine of 1549cc or less it would be £230.
Example 2 is a saving that is easy to miss. If your van was registered in one of the Euro windows, check whether it meets the standard rather than assuming the full rate applies.
Van VED rates, 2026/27
| Category | 12 months | 12 monthly DD (total) | 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard rate (registered on or after 1 Mar 2001) | £360 | £378 | £198 |
| Euro 4 compliant (registered 1 Mar 2003 to 31 Dec 2006) | £140 | £147 | £77 |
| Euro 5 compliant (registered 1 Jan 2009 to 31 Dec 2010) | £140 | £147 | £77 |
| Registered before 1 Mar 2001, up to 1549cc | £230 | £241.50 | £126.50 |
| Registered before 1 Mar 2001, over 1549cc | £375 | £393.75 | £206.25 |
Source: GOV.UK vehicle tax rate tables. Paying the 6 months by Direct Debit costs £189 (standard), £73.50 (Euro 4/5), £120.75 (pre-2001 up to 1549cc) or £196.88 (pre-2001 over 1549cc). Very old vehicles may be exempt from vehicle tax; see our Historic Vehicle Tax Exemption Checker.
Why vans are taxed differently to cars
Cars registered from April 2017 pay a CO2-based first-year rate followed by a flat standard rate, as covered in our car Road Tax Calculator. Vans do not use that CO2-graduated system. Their VED is simpler, built around a standard flat rate with the Euro 4 and Euro 5 reduced rates as the main exception.
Electric vans
Electric vans used to be exempt from VED. GOV.UK says most electric vans moved to the standard annual rate for light goods vehicles from 1 April 2025, and the rate tables list zero emission vehicles within the standard van categories. If you are budgeting for an electric van and still assuming zero road tax, that assumption is out of date.
GOV.UK says "most" electric vans, without listing exceptions. Check your own van when you tax it. This mirrors the change to car VED covered in our UK Road Tax Explained guide.
What this calculator can't tell you
Whether your van is within the 3,500kg limit
The light goods vehicle rates apply to vans not over 3,500kg revenue weight. Heavier vehicles fall under a different tax system. Check your V5C for the exact tax class.
Dual-purpose and pickup classification
Some vehicles sit between "van" and "car", such as certain pickups and crew-cab vans, and may be taxed under different rules depending on how they are classified. Check the tax class on your V5C if you are unsure.
Whether your van really qualifies for the Euro 4/5 rate
Being registered in the date window is not enough on its own. The van must also be Euro 4 or Euro 5 compliant. This calculator uses your own answer, so confirm it before relying on the lower rate.
Common mistakes
Assuming van VED works like car VED
Cars use a CO2-based system with a first-year rate. Vans do not. Applying car VED logic to a van gives the wrong answer.
Missing the Euro 4/5 rate
As Example 2 shows, vans in the eligible registration windows can pay £140 instead of £360. It is worth checking.
Assuming electric vans are still exempt
As covered above, most electric vans now pay the standard rate.
Using car rates for a pre-2001 vehicle
Vehicles registered before 1 March 2001 are taxed by engine size, not on the standard van rate.
How to check and pay
- Check your vehicle's details and tax status on the free DVLA vehicle enquiry service
- Tax your van online at gov.uk/vehicle-tax
- Check Euro 4/5 compliance on your V5C or with the manufacturer if your van was registered in one of the windows
- Watch your renewal date. DVLA usually sends a reminder before your tax runs out, but it is your responsibility to renew on time
🚗 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
Registered before 1 March 2001: £230 (engine up to 1549cc) or £375 (over 1549cc) for 12 months.
Registered on or after 1 March 2001: £140 if the registration date is within the Euro 4 window (1 Mar 2003 to 31 Dec 2006) or the Euro 5 window (1 Jan 2009 to 31 Dec 2010) and you confirm compliance; otherwise the standard £360.
Electric vans: the standard £360. The 12-month Direct Debit total, 6-month and 6-month Direct Debit amounts are taken from the same GOV.UK table.
Frequently asked questions
How much is road tax for a van in the UK?
Most vans registered on or after 1 March 2001 pay £360 for 12 months (£378 if you pay by 12 monthly Direct Debit instalments). Euro 4 or Euro 5 compliant vans registered in the eligible windows pay £140. Rates are those valid from 1 April 2026.
Do electric vans pay road tax?
Most do, since 1 April 2025. GOV.UK says most electric vans moved to the standard annual rate for light goods vehicles.
Is van road tax the same as car road tax?
No. Vans use a mostly flat-rate system, while cars registered from April 2017 use a CO2-based system with a first-year rate.
What counts as a "van" for VED purposes?
The light goods vehicle rates apply to vans not over 3,500kg revenue weight. Heavier vehicles fall under a different system, and some dual-purpose vehicles may be classified differently. Check your V5C.
How do I know if my van qualifies for the Euro 4/5 rate?
It must be registered in the right window (1 March 2003 to 31 December 2006 for Euro 4, 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2010 for Euro 5) and be compliant with that standard. Check your V5C or ask the manufacturer.
References & data sources
- GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rate tables: other vehicle tax rates. Standard, Euro 4 and Euro 5 van rates.
- GOV.UK — Rates for cars and light goods vehicles registered before 1 March 2001. Engine-size rates.
- GOV.UK — Vehicle tax for electric, zero and low emission vehicles. Electric van rate change.
- GOV.UK — Rates of vehicle tax (V149). Light goods vehicle rates valid from 1 April 2026.
- DVLA — Vehicle enquiry service. Checking a vehicle's tax status.
Rates can change, so confirm yours on GOV.UK before paying.
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.