Road Tax Calculator UK 2026/27 (Car Tax / VED)
Find your Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) instantly — first year rate and ongoing annual cost, based on official gov.uk rates
For cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017. Older cars use a different band system — see gov.uk vehicle tax rates.
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Get Full Vehicle ReportHow UK car tax (VED) works in 2026/27
Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — commonly called car tax or road tax — is paid in two stages for cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017. The first year rate is based entirely on the car's CO2 emissions, ranging from £10 for zero-emission cars up to £5,690 for the highest-emitting petrol and diesel cars. Diesel cars that do not meet the RDE2 (Real Driving Emissions 2) standard for nitrogen oxide emissions pay a higher first-year rate than petrol, RDE2-compliant diesel, or alternative fuel cars in the same CO2 band. From the second year onwards, almost all cars pay a flat standard rate of £200 a year, regardless of fuel type or emissions.
The expensive car supplement
If a car's list price (the published price before any discounts, as first registered) was more than £40,000 — or more than £50,000 for an electric car — an extra £440 a year applies on top of the standard rate, for 5 years starting from the second time the vehicle is taxed. Zero-emission vehicles registered before 1 April 2025 are exempt from this supplement.
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Frequently asked questions
For cars first registered on or after 1 April 2017, the first year of VED is based on the car's CO2 emissions — ranging from £10 for zero-emission cars to £5,690 for the highest-emitting cars. From the second year onwards, most cars pay a flat standard rate of £200 a year. Cars with a list price over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric) pay an extra £440 a year for 5 years.
Electric cars pay £10 in the first year, then the standard £200 annual rate from year two. If the electric car's list price is over £50,000, an extra £440 a year applies for 5 years from the second year of registration — unless it was a zero-emission vehicle registered before 1 April 2025, which is exempt from this supplement.
Cars with a list price (before discounts) of more than £40,000 — or £50,000 for electric cars — pay an extra £440 a year on top of the standard rate, for 5 years starting from the second time the vehicle is taxed.
It depends on your car's CO2 emissions and registration date. For cars registered on or after 1 April 2017, the first year rate ranges from £10 (zero-emission) to £5,690 (highest emitters), then a flat £200 a year from year two — plus £440 a year extra for 5 years if the list price was over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric). Use the calculator above with your CO2 figure, fuel type and list price for an exact figure.
The official way is to use the DVLA's free "Check the tax and MOT status of a vehicle" tool on GOV.UK, which shows the current VED rate for that specific registration. This calculator gives you the same result upfront using your car's CO2 emissions, fuel type and list price, without needing to enter a registration plate.
"Road tax" is the common name for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). Most cars pay a flat standard rate of £200 a year from their second year of registration. The first-year rate is based on CO2 emissions and ranges from £10 to £5,690, and cars with a list price over £40,000 (£50,000 for electric) pay an extra £440 a year for 5 years.
How much is road tax if your car was registered before April 2017?
Cars first registered between 1 March 2001 and 31 March 2017 pay a flat rate set by CO2 band and fuel type, with no first-year rate and no expensive car supplement. Your CO2 figure is on the V5C registration certificate. These are the 2026/27 rates.
| Band | CO2 emissions | 12 months | 12 monthly Direct Debit payments (total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to 100g/km | £20 | £21 |
| B | 101 to 110g/km | £20 | £21 |
| C | 111 to 120g/km | £35 | £36.75 |
| D | 121 to 130g/km | £170 | £178.50 |
| E | 131 to 140g/km | £200 | £210 |
| F | 141 to 150g/km | £225 | £236.25 |
| G | 151 to 165g/km | £275 | £288.75 |
| H | 166 to 175g/km | £325 | £341.25 |
| I | 176 to 185g/km | £360 | £378 |
| J | 186 to 200g/km | £410 | £430.50 |
| K | 201 to 225g/km | £445 | £467.25 |
| L | 226 to 255g/km | £760 | £798 |
| M | Over 255g/km | £790 | £829.50 |
Rates are the same for petrol, diesel, alternative fuel and zero emission cars in this group. Band K includes cars over 225g/km registered before 23 March 2006. A six-month payment is also available for bands D to M, at about 55% of the annual rate (for example £110 for band E, or £105 by Direct Debit).
How to pay: 12 months, monthly or 6 months
From the second tax payment onwards, a car registered on or after 1 April 2017 pays a flat £200 a year. The cost depends on how you pay:
| Payment option | Standard rate | With the £440 expensive car supplement |
|---|---|---|
| Single 12 month payment | £200 | £640 |
| 12 monthly Direct Debit payments (total) | £210 | £672 |
| Single 6 month payment | £110 | £352 |
| Single 6 month payment by Direct Debit | £105 | £336 |
Paying monthly costs £10 more over the year than paying once. Source: GOV.UK vehicle tax rates.
Worked example
A new petrol car with CO2 emissions of 120g/km and a list price of £25,000 (below the £40,000 threshold):
| CO2 emissions | 120g/km |
| First year rate (111–130g/km band) | £455 |
| List price | £25,000 (below £40,000 threshold) |
| Expensive car supplement | £0 — not applicable |
| Standard rate (year 2 onwards) | £200/yr |
| 5-year total (years 2–6) | £1,000 |
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Results are estimates based on official 2026/27 gov.uk VED rates for cars registered on or after 1 April 2017, and are intended as a guide only. Always confirm your exact tax band and price via gov.uk or your dealer.