Car tax calculator
Enter the date of first registration, the fuel type and the CO2 figure from the V5C. You’ll get the 12-month, 6-month and monthly Direct Debit cost, and whether the expensive car supplement applies.
- GOV.UK vehicle tax rates in force on 25 October 2026
- Figures checked 25 October 2026
- You’ll need the V5C logbook (boxes B, P.1, P.3 and V.7)
Your result
Enter your car’s details.
How vehicle tax is worked out
Which rules apply depends on when the car was first registered.
Registered on or after 1 April 2017
The first payment, usually made by the dealer and included in the price, depends on CO2. After that every petrol, diesel, hybrid, alternative fuel and electric car pays the same standard rate of £200 a year, plus £440 a year for five years if the list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars registered from 1 April 2025).
| CO2 (g/km) | First payment: petrol, RDE2 diesel, alternative fuel | First payment: other diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | £10 | £10 |
| 1–50 | £115 | £135 |
| 51–75 | £135 | £280 |
| 76–90 | £280 | £365 |
| 91–100 | £365 | £405 |
| 101–110 | £405 | £455 |
| 111–130 | £455 | £560 |
| 131–150 | £560 | £1,410 |
| 151–170 | £1,410 | £2,270 |
| 171–190 | £2,270 | £3,420 |
| 191–225 | £3,420 | £4,850 |
| 226–255 | £4,850 | £5,690 |
| Over 255 | £5,690 | £5,690 |
Registered 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017
These cars pay every year by CO2 band, A to M. Bands A to C can only be paid for 12 months at a time.
| Band | CO2 (g/km) | 12 months | 6 months |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100 | £20 | Not available |
| B | 101–110 | £20 | Not available |
| C | 111–120 | £35 | Not available |
| D | 121–130 | £170 | £93.50 |
| E | 131–140 | £200 | £110 |
| F | 141–150 | £225 | £123.75 |
| G | 151–165 | £275 | £151.25 |
| H | 166–175 | £325 | £178.75 |
| I | 176–185 | £360 | £198 |
| J | 186–200 | £410 | £225.50 |
| K | 201–225 | £445 | £244.75 |
| L | 226–255 | £760 | £418 |
| M | Over 255 | £790 | £434.50 |
Cars over 225 g/km registered before 23 March 2006 stay in band K.
Registered before 1 March 2001
Engine size up to 1549cc: £230 a year. Over 1549cc: £375 a year. Cars built more than 40 years ago can usually be taxed in the historic class for free, though you still have to tax them.
Worked examples
A petrol car registered in March 2021, 128 g/km, list price £43,500. It’s over the £40,000 threshold, so in October 2026 it pays £640 a year (£200 plus the £440 supplement). The supplement stops in March 2027, after which it pays £200.
A diesel registered in July 2012, 119 g/km. That’s band C, so £35 a year. Fuel type doesn’t change the rate for cars of this age.
Questions people ask
How much is car tax in 2026/27?
For most cars registered since 1 April 2017 it’s £200 a year after the first year, or £640 a year in years 2 to 6 if the list price was over £40,000. Older cars pay by CO2 band (registered March 2001 to March 2017) or engine size (before March 2001).
Do electric cars pay road tax now?
Yes. Since April 2025 electric cars pay vehicle tax. New ones pay £10 for the first year and then the £200 standard rate. An electric car with a list price over £50,000 first registered from 1 April 2025 also pays the expensive car supplement.
What is the expensive car supplement?
An extra £440 a year for cars with a list price over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric cars). It applies for 5 years from the second time the car is taxed, so roughly years 2 to 6 of the car’s life. The list price is the new price including options, not what you paid.
Is it cheaper to pay car tax monthly?
No. Paying by monthly Direct Debit costs 5% more over the year than a single 12-month payment. A 6-month payment costs more again for older cars.
Where do I find my car’s CO2 figure?
On the V5C logbook, in section V.7. Cars registered before March 2001 don’t have one listed, which is why they’re taxed on engine size (box P.1).