Car Tax Calculator: Instantly Estimate Your Vehicle’s Road Tax
Type in your car's registration number to find out how much road tax you'll pay each year. Find out quickly and accurately how much road tax any UK-registered vehicle costs right now.
How Are Car Tax Charges Calculated?
The price of taxing a car in the UK depends on a number of important factors, such as the car's age, type, and specifications. Engine size may determine vehicle tax rates that registered before specific dates. For the latest models, the price is usually calculated by the type of fuel used and the amount of CO₂ emitted. Other factors, like whether the vehicle is a hybrid or uses different fuels, may also affect the end tax amount.
Which Tax Band Does My Car Fall Into?
A car tax band is a way to classify cars into different categories that affect how much Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) you have to pay. Key factors like your car's CO₂ emission, engine size, fuel type, and the date it was first registered usually determine this band.
Tax bands for cars registered after March 2001 are mostly based on CO₂ emissions. Taxes for cars recorded before this date, on the other hand, are usually based on engine size.
Our Free Car Data Check tool makes it easy to check your car's tax band and other information.
How Do I Check Out the Tax Cost for My Vehicle?
Enter the vehicle's license number to find out how much road tax it costs each year.
Our Free Car Check gives you a lot of useful information about UK-registered cars, like how much vehicle tax will cost for both 6 and 12 months, along with other important vehicle information.
Why Does My Car Tax Report Show ‘Not Available’?
There are times when there may not be enough information to calculate the exact vehicle tax rates. If this happens, you can look at the official Vehicle Tax Rates Table to get an idea of how much the tax will be based on the details of your car.
What Is the Extra Vehicle Tax for Cars Over £40,000?
After the second year of registration, vehicles with an original list price of more than £40,000 will have to pay an extra £335 in road tax every year for five years. The additional tax applies regardless of vehicle fuel type or CO₂ emissions.
The vehicle's tax rate reverts to the standard rate after five years, which is based on its emissions and fuel type.
How Can I Check If My Car Has a High-Value Tax Surcharge?
Enter your car registration number to see whether you pay the £335 yearly road tax. If you are buying a car that is less than five years old, you should ask the owner to check the original selling price to see if this extra charge applies.
How Reliable Are the Tax Rates in the Calculator?
For the tax rate, the DVLA provides information about the vehicles. Before completing the purchase of a vehicle, you should make sure that the tax estimate is correct by talking to the current owner or contacting the DVLA directly.
Do I Save Money Paying Road Tax Annually or Monthly?
When you pay your road tax monthly or every six months instead of once a year, you usually have to pay more fees. The DVLA adds a fee to these options for more frequent payments to cover administrative expenses. In the end, a one-time yearly payment is the cheaper option.
You can use our Free DVLA Check service to see your payment choices and the costs that come with them.
Can I Check If My Vehicle Is Already Taxed?
Check car details and its road tax status right away with our free UK car check. Just enter the registration number to get a full record that includes details on taxes and MOTs.
Do MOT and Road Tax Expire at the Same Time?
No, the due times for renewing your vehicle's tax and MOT do not always the same. The date of the vehicle's first registration or the most recent MOT test will tell you when the next MOT is due. On the other hand, the date of the last tax payment determines when the road tax is renewed.
What Is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED)?
The official term for what people in the UK call "car tax" is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Most cars and trucks that drive or park on public roads have to pay this fee.
Understanding Tax Rates by Registration Date
Cars Registered After April 2017
A tax rate based on CO₂ emissions applies to all vehicles registered after this date for the first year. This is true for a majority of vehicles, even some RVs. Diesel cars that do not meet the RDE2 pollution standard also have to pay a higher tax rate in their first year.
The initial payment covers the vehicle's tax for a year. After the first year, the tax rate depends on the vehicle's fuel type—petrol, diesel, electric, or hybrid. Starting in the second year following registration, vehicles above £40,000 incur a £335 annual fee for five years.
Vehicles Registered Between March 2001 and March 2017
For cars registered between March 1, 2001, and March 31, 2017, taxes are based on the type of fuel they use and how much CO₂ they emit. You can use our Free Car Check service or look at the V5C registration document to find out how much CO₂ a car emits.
Enter the vehicle's registration number to find out how much the tax will be. If the tax information says "Not Available," you can use the Tax Rates for Vehicles Registered Before 2001 table to figure out the amount manually.
Cars Registered Before March 2001: Tax Rules Explained
Taxes on cars registered before March 1, 2001 are based on engine size instead of CO₂ emissions or fuel type. Two tax categories exist: one for vehicles with engines up to 1549cc and another for those beyond 1549cc.
To find the right vehicle tax rates, it is important to check how much engine power they have. Using our Free Car Check service is an easy way to do this because it gives you detailed engine specs and other important vehicle information.
What Are the VED Changes Coming in 2025?
If you live in the UK after April 1, 2025, electric vehicles (EVs) will have to pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).
Newly registered EVs will have to pay a £10 VED for the first year. After the second year, the rate will be £195 per year as usual. Additionally, EVs with an original list price greater than £40,000 will have to pay an extra £335 every year for five years, starting with the second year of registration.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) do not emit CO₂, hence their VED is not based on emissions during operation. Instead, a flat-rate system has been introduced to make EVs more like other types of vehicles.
Will Car Tax Rates Increase Every Year?
Yes, it is possible for UK road tax rates to change every year. Usually, this happens when the government releases its budget. These changes may result from inflation, environmental measures, or vehicle classification modifications, such as CO₂ emission levels and fuel types.
To make sure you pay the right amount of taxes, you should check the most recent tax rates.
Do I Have to Cancel Tax When Making a SORN Declaration?
You do not have to pay road tax for your car when you file a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN). No refund request is needed for remaining complete months of tax.
Is There a Road Tax Tool for Motorbikes?
Unfortunately, our Road Tax Calculator does not work with motorcycles. Just put the registration number of your motorbike to see the correct tax amount based on its details.
Motorhome Tax Bands and Rates
Motorhome tax rates are based on how much the car weighs and how big its engine is. There may be different tax rates for RVs registered after April 2017 if they are in the M1SP group or if the type approval certificate lists CO₂ emissions.
For more information, look at the Motorhome Tax Rates table to make sure you do the right calculation based on your vehicle's classification and specs.
Tax Rules for Other Types of Vehicles
There are different tax rates for different types of vehicles than for regular passenger cars. These include goods vehicles, motorbikes, and tricycles. These rates can vary based on the type of vehicle, how it is used, how much it weighs, the size of its engine, or its emissions.
To make sure your tax payments are correct and legal, you should look at the right tax band or rate table for your vehicle category.
