United Kingdom · Vehicle Excise Duty

UK Road Tax Calculator 2026

Estimate Vehicle Excise Duty (car tax) with April 2026 rates — first-year showroom tax by CO2, £200 standard rate, expensive car supplement, EV rules, and older band systems.

  • Post-2017 + legacy eras
  • First-year & renewal rates
  • Expensive car supplement
  • 100% free estimate
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UK road tax calculator — Vehicle Excise Duty estimate with CO2 bands and car registration documents2026 · VED / road tax
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Estimate your UK road tax (VED)

Rates from 1 April 2026 (DVLA V149). Choose when the car was first registered, then enter CO2, fuel, and list price where needed. Estimate only — for your exact vehicle use GOV.UK check vehicle tax.

Expensive car supplement: over £40,000 (petrol/diesel/AFV) or £50,000 (electric). Applies for 5 years from the second licence.
How it works

Vehicle Excise Duty is the UK’s annual car tax

Drivers still call it road tax or car tax. Officially it is Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) — an annual tax linked to keeping or using a vehicle on public roads. It is not ring-fenced for road repairs; it goes into general government revenue.

What you pay depends mainly on when the car was first registered, then on CO2 emissions, fuel type, and sometimes the original list price.

Three eras

Pick the system that matches first registration

  • On or after 1 April 2017: CO2-based first-year (“showroom”) tax, then a flat standard rate from year two (£200 from 1 April 2026 for most cars, including EVs).
  • 1 March 2001 – 31 March 2017: annual rates by CO2 bands A–M.
  • Before 1 March 2001: private/light goods rates by engine size (not over / over 1549cc).

Use the calculator above to switch eras and estimate the correct path.

Rates 2026/27

First-year showroom tax (post-April 2017)

CO2 (g/km)Petrol / RDE2 diesel / AFV / ZEVOther 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

Source: DVLA V149 rates applying on or after 1 April 2026. Non-RDE2 diesels use the higher column.

Year 2+

Standard rate and expensive car supplement

From the second licence, most post-2017 cars pay the standard rate of £200 for 12 months. If the published list price when new was more than £40,000 (or £50,000 for electric), an expensive car supplement of £440 applies for five years from the second tax — £640 total per year while the supplement runs.

Electric cars are no longer free: they pay the same £200 standard rate, with the higher £50,000 list-price threshold for the supplement.

Older cars

2001–2017 bands and pre-2001 engine size

Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 stay on CO2 bands A–M (from April 2026: Band A/B £20, rising to Band M £790). Cars before 1 March 2001 usually pay £230 (not over 1549cc) or £375 (over 1549cc).

Historic vehicles: from 1 April 2026, vehicles built before 1 January 1986 can apply for a historic tax class (rolling 40-year rule). The rate is £0, but you must still tax the vehicle.

Buying tips

What to check before you buy

  • Ask for the official CO2 figure and whether a diesel meets RDE2 — it changes first-year tax.
  • Confirm the published list price before discounts if the car is near £40k / £50k.
  • Budget year-two costs separately from showroom tax; high-CO2 cars fall after year one, but expensive cars stay elevated for five more years.
  • EVs are cheaper in year one (£10) but not free thereafter.
  • For a specific registration plate, use the official GOV.UK check vehicle tax service.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Choose when the car was first registered, then enter CO2 (and fuel / list price for post-2017 cars, or engine size for pre-2001). We apply DVLA V149 rates from 1 April 2026. For a specific registration plate, use the official GOV.UK check vehicle tax service.

They are the same duty. Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) is the official name. Road tax and car tax are everyday terms. Paying VED does not mean the money is ring-fenced for road maintenance.

From 1 April 2026, the standard 12-month rate for most cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 is £200. With the expensive car supplement it is £640 per year while the supplement applies.

Yes. Zero-emission cars typically pay £10 in the first year, then the £200 standard rate from year two. Expensive electric cars (list price over £50,000) can also pay the £440 supplement for five years from the second licence.

An extra £440 a year for five years from the second tax payment if the published list price when new was over £40,000 (petrol, diesel, alternative fuel) or £50,000 (electric). It does not apply to the first-year showroom tax.

From CO2 emissions using the official first-licence table. Higher CO2 means a higher first bill — up to £5,690 for over 255 g/km. Non-RDE2 diesels use a higher column. After year one, most cars drop to the flat standard rate.

Cars first registered from 1 March 2001 to 31 March 2017 use CO2 bands A–M. Cars before 1 March 2001 usually use engine-size rates (£230 or £375). They do not automatically move to the flat £200 post-2017 system.

Vehicles built more than 40 years ago can qualify for a historic tax class (from April 2026: built before 1 January 1986). The rate is £0, but you must still tax the vehicle. Some hire/reward and commercial uses are excluded.

No. RoadTaxGuru estimates from the details you enter. For DVLA data on a registration, use gov.uk/check-vehicle-tax, then tax or renew at gov.uk/vehicle-tax.

No. It is an independent educational estimate based on published GOV.UK / V149 tables. Always confirm the amount for your vehicle on GOV.UK before paying.

Last updated:

Official information sources

RoadTaxGuru provides educational estimates only. VED rates, expensive car supplement rules, and EV treatment change with the Budget and DVLA tables. Confirm the amount for your registration on GOV.UK before taxing or buying a vehicle.